Sir Bradley Wiggins to support Ian Stannard at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
Last Updated: 27/02/15 4:52pm
Sir Bradley Wiggins has revealed he will support the ambitions of Team Sky team-mate Ian Stannard in Saturday's first one-day classic of the season, Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.
Wiggins is set to play a central role for the British squad in this year’s spring classics and is aiming to become the first Briton to win Paris-Roubaix in April.
However, he will step down into the role of domestique at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, the 200.2km cobbled classic that Stannard is looking to win for the second year in a row.
Wiggins told teamsky.com: “I feel good. I’m coming off the back of a good block of training and I’m ready for what I consider to be the start of my season proper now. This next month of racing is where it really matters.
“For Omloop Het Niuewsblad, we have got last year’s winner in Ian Stannard, and he is trying to do the double, so my job will be to put him in the best position to win.
“My goal will be to finish, to finish well, and be there in the last 30-40km, when there might be a break that needs chasing down or we need to drive things ourselves. After everything these guys have given me over the years, I’m looking forward to do a job for them as they go for the win.”
Wiggins started his 2015 season at the Tour of Qatar earlier this month but treated the event as a “preparation race” and finished well down the field.
He will approach Omloop Het Nieuwsblad far more seriously and is readying himself for a war of attrition against both rival teams and the elements.
He added: “Getting yourself into the right mind-set for the cobbled classics is far different to any other race. These races are over in one day and you don’t get a second chance. It’s a case of laying everything on the line, taking risks, and every one of them is a warzone. We all know the score and the strongest guys generally win.
“The biggest difference between this race and the other cobbled classics is the cold. Tomorrow it will be around five degrees and that is the thing that wears people out. Last year it rained as well and that really sorts the men from the boys.”
