Bradley Wiggins to ride Omloop Het Nieuwsblad

Sir Bradley Wiggins has been named in Team Sky’s lineup for this weekend’s Omloop Het Nieuwsblad – the first cobbled classic of the season.

The 2012 Tour de France champion joins defending champion Ian Stannard at the Belgian semi-classic, with the Luke Rowe and Andy Fenn the other Brits in the Sky squad.

Bernhard Eisel, Christian Knees, Salvatore Puccio and Chris Sutton make up the eight-man squad, several of whom are also likely to line up at Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne the following day.

Wiggins has made no secret of his desire to win at Paris-Roubaix in April and Het Nieuwsblad will likely play a large role in his preparation for the monument.

UCI Track World Championship silver medallist Elia Viviani may return to the road-racing fold on Sunday at Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne in place of Chris Sutton, but Team Sky are yet to confirm their lineup.

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad squad

Bernhard Eisel, Andy Fenn, Christian Knees, Salvatore Puccio, Luke Rowe, Ian Stannard, Chris Sutton & Sir Bradley Wiggins