Fabian Cancellara has fired a warning shot to Bradley Wiggins ahead of the spring classics, saying that Britain’s first Tour winner is welcome to try to beat him at Paris-Roubaix this year.
“Good luck!” he said when asked what he made of Wiggins' decision to ride Roubaix. “No, good luck!
“With Tour de France weight you’re not going to go anywhere [at Roubaix]. It's everyone’s choice; when Alberto [Contador] wants to join and Andy or Frank [Schleck] or whoever… they are all welcome to Roubaix.”
“In Trouee [Arenberg Forest] it starts. And it finishes in Roubaix with pain.”
Wiggins, who added bulk to his Tour winning physique for last year’s world championships time trial, has outlined a crack at Paris-Roubaix as an early season goal of his before heading to the Tour of California in May.
Cancellara meanwhile will race three consecutive races in the Middle East, continuing from the Dubai Tour and Tour of Qatar at the five-day Tour of Oman when it begins on Tuesday February 18.
While seldom mixing it up with Omega Pharma-Quickstep and Tom Boonen at the front of the race in Qatar, the 32 year old Swiss star is happy to build his condition and stay out of trouble after missing three weeks of training due to illness and injury over the winter.
“I know what I need. I’m not stressed, I’m continuing to do what I have to do,” said Cancellara.
“Of course you sit in the bunch [in Qatar] and you see guys pulling and doing some pain against us. But on the other hand we know what we’ve done, and this is not April. This is February, and it’s still a long way and we know how we are going to progress.”
Sir Bradley Wiggins to target Paris-Roubaix
Peter Sagan returns to Paris-Roubaix
International cycling news round-up (Dec 20): Greipel crashes; Spanish riders test 2014 Worlds course; Carera returns home; and more
Thank you for reading 10 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
-
-
No selfies, no autographs: Tour de France to implement strict Covid-19 protocol
'Do not get too close to the spectators,' race organisers tell riders
-
Dr Hutch: WLTM someone to join him on long rides
Doctor Hutch leaves sightseeing for others and dedicates his long rides to the pursuit of solitary suffering. But now he’s looking for ride-mates - A GSOH is a must
-
Seven tech insights spotted at Paris-Roubaix 2023
From tyre pressure systems to old-school chainrings, here's what Cycling Weekly saw at the race
-
Ineos Grenadiers rider runs half marathon after finishing Paris-Roubaix
Cameron Wurf is a triathlete, so it's unfair really. He is not the first cyclist to dabble with trainers, however
-
Tweets of the week: Cobbles, barbecues, and what on earth is curry ketchup?
Strap in for our pre-Paris-Roubaix round-up of social media's finest
-
Bradley Wiggins says he suffered ‘borderline rape’ during three years of 'abuse' by coach
Speaking on Fearne Cotton’s Happy Place podcast, Wiggins says he now “hates cycling” and only ever used the sport as a distraction
-
Why goats are helping ready Paris-Roubaix's cobbles for spring
Cared for by a local charity, a herd of goats are enjoying their new duties in the Forest of Arenberg
-
Bradley Wiggins might not be a TV pundit for much longer: 'I just want a normal job really'
Tour de France champion says that he doesn't still want to be on Eurosport in 10 years, and he thought about being a social worker
-
CW Live: Chris Froome targets return to 'top level'; UCI tightens ITT rules; Strava responds to price hike criticism; Topless protesters arrested at TDU; Tributes paid to Lieuwe Westra; Scott recalls 'cracking' bikes; Toon Aerts the PE teacher
The latest news in the world of cycling
-
Bradley Wiggins: Abuse contributed to making me a great cyclist
The Tour de France winner is part of a new NSPCC campaign to help people spot the signs of child abuse
