Wednesday 20 January 2016 10:43, UK
Team Sky rider Wout Poels says he is happy to spend another season supporting Chris Froome but wants to start pursuing his own Grand Tour ambitions from 2017.
The 28-year-old Dutch climber played an integral role in helping Froome to victory at the Tour de France last summer and later showcased his leadership credentials by finishing second at the Tour of Britain and third at the Abu Dhabi Tour.
Poels hopes to lead Team Sky at more one-week stage races this year, but his longer-term target is the Giro d'Italia or Vuelta a Espana.
Speaking at Team Sky's winter training camp in Mallorca, he told Sky Sports: "My two big goals this year are the Tour with Chris again, and the Olympics. I really want to be selected there.
"I still have the ambition to do GC [general classification] in a Grand Tour, like the Giro or the Vuelta, because when you stay with Sky, Chris always goes to the Tour.
"I think it's not bad to invest one more year to go with Chris again to the Tour and see how he is doing everything.
"I also have my own goals to try to do a good GC at Ruta del Sol, Tirreno-Adriarico and some other races in 2016."
Another of Poels' targets for this season are the Ardennes Classics, and in particular La Fleche Wallonne.
The race ends on the short but steep climb of the Mur de Huy in Belgium and Poels is confident he can challenge for victory.
He added: "La Fleche Wallonne suits me really well with the Mur de Huy finish. I really like explosive climbs like Mur de Huy.
"Last year, my position in the peloton was a lot better. Before, I was riding more at the back of the peloton, but with Sky you have to ride at the front.
"When I am in the front in the finals, I can do a good job, so this year I will really go full for it and see what happens."
