Elia Viviani: 'I told the team not to pick me for Tour of Flanders'
The Italian says he isn't in the right shape to take up a valuable spot in Team Sky's Tour of Flanders line-up


The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Thank you for signing up to The Pick. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
Elia Viviani passed on his chance to race the Tour of Flanders this Sunday and let a Sky team-mate take his place. The Italian, winner of stage two on Wednesday in the Three Days of De Panne, says that he suffered in recent days.
Team Sky named their Flanders line-up yesterday with leaders Michal Kwiatkowski and Geraint Thomas, and support riders Luke Rowe, Ian Stannard, Salvatore Puccio, Gianni Moscon, Christian Knees and Michal Golas.
"To be honest, I suffered like a dog [on Tuesday] and my morale was not the best," Viviani told Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport. "In fact, after the stage one, I said to team that it was better that they appointed someone else for Flanders."
Viviani raced Flanders in 2013 for Cannondale-Liquigas and 2015 for Sky. In the other parts year, he led Sky to sprint victories in the Tour of Britain and the Giro d'Italia. Even after winning on Wednesday ahead of Marcel Kittel (Etixx–Quick-Step), he would not change his mind about Flanders.
Watch: Tour of Flanders essential guide
"No, the result does not change things. And it wouldn't change anything even if I won again. [Kittel won stage 3a. - ed. ] We have Kwiatkowski, who is flying, Thomas who prepared for this race, Stannard and Rowe in great shape. We have men to win the Flanders and they deserve a top team.
"You need to be realistic. Right now, I need to take a moment to breathe. I need a few days to unplug, for my head and legs, because I want to win the Scheldeprijs [on Wednesday] and race well in my first Paris-Roubaix."
Viviani was pleased with his win, his first time to beat Kittel in a head-to-head, he said, after doing the same with Mark Cavendish, Peter Sagan, André Greipel, Alexander Kristoff, John Degenkolb and Michael Matthews. "And this Kittel is flying, he's not the Kittel from last year."
Sky's manager David Brailsford explained that he is watching Mikel Landa's progress closely after a cold forced him to miss early season races because he wants to win the race with him.
Landa, third in the Giro last year, just restarted in the Coppi e Bartali stage race. There could also be space for Viviani, who says that after Roubaix, he will unplug and aim for winning sprint stages in the Giro.
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
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
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.
-
-
Primož Roglič confirms he will leave Jumbo-Visma
Giro d'Italia champion does not reveal his destination for 2024 yet, though
By Adam Becket Published
-
Dr Hutch: The aesthetics of the 'chest-fairing' is a funny hill to want to die on
The earnest buffoonery of budget aero hacks may rile TT diehards, but Cycling Weekly's columnist salutes the cut-price cunning of their innovations
By Michael Hutchinson Published
-
'I thought I was more in the door than I was' - Luke Rowe bares all on Vuelta a España snub
Welshman will not race a Grand Tour this year after he missed out on selection by Ineos Grenadiers
By Tom Davidson Published
-
‘I hope I get a cow’ - Josh Tarling aiming for the top prize at World Championships
Welshman competing in elite men’s individual time trial on Friday afternoon
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'All being well I’ll still be racing next year' but 'it's coming to an end' - Geraint Thomas on Ineos Grenadiers future
'It's nice to be arriving at a Worlds in decent nick' says the Welshman ahead of individual time trial in Stirling
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Rider slapped with 30 day suspension for causing Tour of Flanders mass pile-up
Filip Maciejuk banned from racing for a month after careering into the front of the bunch after taking to the pavement
By Vern Pitt Published
-
Carlos Rodriguez credits BMX skills with Tour de France stage win
Ineos Grenadiers rider dedicates his victory to his parents
By Vern Pitt Published
-
'We just have to keep trying': Ineos Grenadiers ready to attack at the Tour de France
'You never know' British team's DS Steve Cummings says anything is still possible at French Grand Tour
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Disappointed on stage one, pleased with stage two: Tom Pidcock gaining confidence at Tour de France
Ineos Grenadiers rider satisfied with performance on the road to San Sebastián after difficult opening stage
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tom Pidcock: Beating the likes of Pogačar and Vingegaard to a Tour de France stage would be ‘a step up’
Ineos Grenadiers rider heads into second Tour aiming for general classification and stage wins
By Tom Thewlis Published