Team Sky not favourites for Paris-Roubaix, insists Knaven
Sports director and former winner of the race says that a decision has not yet been made on who will lead Sky at Paris-Roubaix
Team Sky are not favourites for victory in Paris-Roubaix, says sports director Servais Knaven, while he also insists that the team have yet to formally select a designated leader.
Sir Bradley Wiggins is widely expected to lead the team in his last race in Sky’s colours before switching to the track for the Hour Record and 2016 Olympics, but Sky are set to meet today in Kortrijk, Belgium, to discuss strategy for Sunday's monument.
"We will sit together, talk and come up with a proper plan," Knaven told Cycling Weekly. "On Friday, everyone will know who will be the leader.
"Bradley's in a good place. He's one of our best riders for Sunday," he continued. "Do you call him a 'leader'? Paris-Roubaix is a different race with different tactics. If one of our protected riders attacks, then he will have his freedom."
Besides Wiggins, Sky's protected group for Roubaix should include four others: Austrian Bernie Eisel, and Brits Luke Rowe, Ian Stannard and Geraint Thomas. They will have to decide over the 27 cobbled sectors that make up the race, who is feeling best and modify their tactics on the fly.
"It's really important that everyone is honest with each other and says how they feel," Knaven, who won the 2001 edition of the race, added.
"It's not going to be an easy goal. We have a group of riders who are riding well, but none of them were ever on the Roubaix podium."
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Eisel has recorded the best result at Roubaix out of any of the current Sky riders, having finished fifth in 2006 with French team FDJ. In 2014, Thomas placed seventh and Wiggins ninth after making the group with eventual winner, Dutchman Niki Terpstra (Etixx - Quick-Step).
For 2015, the British team remain favourites for the race with Thomas and Wiggins. The team so far, produced victory for Ian Stannard in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, and first place in E3 Harelbeke and third in Ghent-Wevelgem for Thomas.
Because of their success and with Thomas as leader, Sky controlled last Sunday's Tour of Flanders by riding on the front for much of the 264km course through the Belgian fields. Thomas, however, ran out of power on the Kwaremont, the second to last climb and was unable to catch winner Alexander Kristoff (Katusha).
But Sky will not take the same control over the border in France on Sunday, insists Knaven.
"We took our responsibility in Flanders. Even in the final, other teams didn't do that when Niki Terpstra and Alexander Kristoff attacked, they still looked to us," he said.
"We will not take the same responsibly for Roubaix. We are not the favourites."
Kristoff is also expected to produce something in the race after a stellar Classics campaign thus far which, besides Flanders, saw the Norwegian take three stages in De Panne and the Scheldeprijs one-day race on Wednesday.
Terpstra and Belgian Sep Vanmarcke (LottoNL-Jumbo) also rank highly. Wiggins and Thomas, though, will remain on everyone’s radar this during this weekend's edition of the Hell of the North.
Thank you for reading 20 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
Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the Giro, Tour de France, and every major race since 2006. His love of cycling began with freestyle and BMX, before the 1998 Tour de France led him to a deep appreciation of the road racing season.
-
British Cycling to 'supercharge' Tours of Britain with new IMG deal
Global media company to help get medial and commercial rights into a "healthy place" in order to invest into other parts of BC
By Adam Becket Published
-
Zwift extends free Play Controllers worth $99 with all eligible Zwift Smart Trainer purchases until Monday 14th October
Deals Zwift is celebrating ten years of virtual cycling and everyone's invited
By Paul Brett Published
-
Mark Cavendish and Bradley Wiggins to reunite on the bike to raise money for US hurricane relief
The British knights will be joined by Jan Ullrich at the Gran Fondo Hincapie next week
By Adam Becket Published
-
Bradley Wiggins 'a little bit nervous' as he returns to cycling
Former Tour de France winner set to ride bike again for first time in almost three years
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'I should have paid more attention to my financial affairs' - Bradley Wiggins opens up about bankruptcy
Former Tour de France winner was declared bankrupt in June
By Adam Becket Published
-
Bradley Wiggins: 'I was putting myself in some situations where someone would have found me dead in the morning'
Former Tour de France winner and Olympic champion reveals further details about his mental health struggles and suggests 2022 interview potentially saved his life
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Bradley Wiggins joins Lance Armstrong for Tour de France podcast
The former Tour de France winner will be appearing on The Move for the next week
By Adam Becket Published
-
Bradley Wiggins declared bankrupt - reports
The Tour de France winner was in an Individual Voluntary Arrangement since 2020
By Adam Becket Published
-