Still looking for his first win in a monument, Team Sky can legitimately aspire to open the account at this Sunday's Tour of Flanders. The British team will select a strong group with Geraint Thomas, Luke Rowe, Ian Stannard and former World Champion Michal Kwiatkowski. General manager Dave Brailsford is confident about the chance to win.

"It's the best yet in that it's streamlined and we have clear leaders. In the past, it wasnít so clear, it was strong with many thinking that they had a chance to lead", Brailsford told Velonews. "He was the big striker that we hired over the winter and he wanted his first big goal. Now that he has it, the pressureís off."

Directeur Sportif Servais Knaven explained that the Polish rider is one of the favourites for the victory this Sunday. "He lifts the entire level of the team up a notch. He won the Amstel Gold Race last year and of course, the worlds. He knows how to do it! The guys can learn from him."

Kwiatkowski knows that there will be a lot of contenders for the 100th edition of the Belgian race. But he showed his good form with his win in GP E3 Harelbecke. "I'm happy with my condition right now, itís been growing since Strade Bianche and Tirreno-Adriatico. I was sick in February, and I wasn't able to race in Algarve, but I returned and was happy with my performance in Tirreno and Sanremo", he told. "To win my first cobbled race of the year, E3, was amazing. I don't know what to expect from myself in Flanders, but I have to say that I'm really happy to be the leader. To have all the teammates riding for you is just what I need."