Hushovd with sniper scope pointed at Paris-Roubaix.

Following his two top-10 performances at Tirreno-Adriatico, Thor Hushovd's long-standing trainer, Atle Kvålsvoll, feels sure that great things await his protégé in the cobbled classics, specifically Paris-Roubaix.  

"Thor is solid, but he still has more improvements to make," Kvålsvoll told Procycling.no

2012 turned out to be an infuriating year for the BMC new signing who suffered a virus and muscle inflammation which curbed his race calendar to a bare 28 race days.

Next on the agenda for Hushovd, who finishes Tirreno-Adriatico today, is the Milan-San Remo on Sunday. Previously Hushovd has finished third in 2005 and 2009. Kvålsvoll is optimistic about Hushovd’s prospects of finishing on the podium once again even though Paris-Roubaix remains the main target, "The plan is to peak for maximum form at Paris-Roubaix," he explained. "But now Hushovd is so strong that there should be no problem to sit in the final, even though he might lack a little to be absolutely on top form. If the body is normal, he should be completely up front."