Luke Rowe: Paris-Roubaix ride led to Tour de France selection
Team Sky's Luke Rowe admits his characteristics suit the first nine stages well as he hopes to guide Chris Froome to Tour de France glory

Luke Rowe must be one of the few riders looking forward to the first week of the Tour de France, with the Team Sky rider saying the stages suit his abilities well.
The 25-year-old is one of five Brits named in Sky's squad and his main aim over the course of the three weeks is to protect their general classification leader Chris Froome.
Froome himself described the first nine stages as being like a Classic every day, and success the Spring races is a key reason why Rowe was chosen to help chaperone the 2013 Tour winner.
Rowe finished eighth in Paris-Roubaix - Sky's highest finisher - and was instrumental in helping Geraint Thomas win E3 Harelbeke and the Welshman is keen to use his skills to guide Froome over the cobbles of stage four.
>>> Team Sky Tour de France squad: the ingredients for success?
“[Paris-Roubaix] is a big factor why I’m there,” he told the Press Association.
“My characteristics suit the first nine days quite well and that’s certainly an influential factor on the reason why I’m in the team.
“As soon as the route was announced (last October) I looked at it straight away and eyed up a few stages that would suit me and where I could really contribute to Froomey and the boys.”
>>> Richie Porte doesn’t expect Team Sky to need ‘Plan B’ at the Tour de France
For Rowe it marks his first Tour de France, but having ridden alongside Froome at the Tour de Romandie and Criterium du Dauphiné in recent months he knows just what is expected of him.
Coming off a fourth-place finish in the National Championships road race in Lincoln, Rowe is certainly in good shape ahead of the Tour and with a number of Classics experts in the peloton, the opening stages are set to be explosive.
Cycling Weekly takes a look at the cobbles on stage four of the Tour de France
Thank you for reading 5 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
Stuart Clarke is a News Associates trained journalist who has worked for the likes of the British Olympic Associate, British Rowing and the England and Wales Cricket Board, and of course Cycling Weekly. His work at Cycling Weekly has focused upon professional racing, following the World Tour races and its characters.
-
-
Arrest warrant issued for cyclist Kaitlin Armstrong in Moriah “Mo” Wilson murder case
Murder motive revolves around a possible love triangle involving pro cyclist Colin Strickland
By Anne-Marije Rook • Published
-
The Best Memorial Day Deals for Cyclists
Memorial Day is coming up in the United States. We've rounded up the best Memorial Day deals for cyclists including complete bikes, tools, apparel and accessories.
By Josh Patterson • Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers insist they had a 'good day' on stage four of the Giro d'Italia, amid confusing tactics
The train returned, but Pavel Sivakov was dropped on Mount Etna
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Pavel Sivakov: 'I’m really happy to be back to my level'
Ineos Grenadiers rider in break at Tour of the Alps, caught with under 10km to go
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Bradley Wiggins: Ineos Grenadiers victory at Paris-Roubaix was 'typical Dave Brailsford'
Former Tour de France winner spent the day on a motorbike covering the race
By Adam Becket • Published
-
'You gotta love bike racing don't you, it's the best thing in the world' — Ben Turner after a dramatic first Paris-Roubaix
Ineos Grenadiers rider claims 11th after crashing, but sees teammate win race
By Adam Becket • Published
-
From finishing outside the time limit to winning Paris-Roubaix, Dylan van Baarle 'buzzing' after victory
Dutch rouleur claims first Paris-Roubaix for Ineos Grenadiers after 12 years of trying
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers head to Paris-Roubaix without one 'pure leader', but lots of options
Filippo Ganna is a favourite for the race, but says he doesn't know why
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Filippo Ganna to lead Ineos Grenadiers at Paris-Roubaix
British squad announce seven man team for Hell of the North
By Adam Becket • Published
-
'Maybe we need to lose a few races so we don’t get too confident' - are Ineos Grenadiers the form Classics team?
Brabantse Pijl performance saw the team win race for second year in a row, with three in top five
By Adam Becket • Published