Tony Gallopin will be one of the contenders for the podium at the Ardennes classics. The Lotto-Soudal rider has admitted that he have some regrets to be not present at the start of cobbled classics. Indeed, the Frenchman thinks he will be able to shine in those races.

Interviewed by L'Equipe, Gallopin aditted that he watched all of cobbled classics. "I didn’t miss a single Flemish Classic on the TV. I confess that I had some regrets about not being there."

He finished third at La Flèche Brabançonne and is ready for the Ardennes.  "This is the first year that I’ve focused completely on the Ardennes races. Up to now I’ve been looking for a place in the top 10, but now I want to be up with the very best. I’m good in all aspects of racing, but I still lack the little extra that would allow me to be super. It’s because of this that I’m not yet committing myself to focusing entirely on one category of races."

Lotto-Soudal team manager Marc Sergeant told L'Equipe that his leader is definitely competitive in the Flemish classics. "We know that Tony is capable of competing at the Tour of Flanders. It’s up to him to decide when he wants to devote himself to it completely. He won’t have any competition on our team. He will have part of the team at his service."

"Tony is going go 100 per cent for the Ardennes this year. After that, we’ll leave the door open for him to decide what he wants to do."