Team Sky has placed high hopes on his rider Luke Rowe. He has the profile to win big races in a few years and perhaps some monuments. The Welshman came through the British Cycling Academy, and since turning professional with Team Sky in 2012 he has gone from strength to strength. He confided to Sky fans on the team website. He told about his youth.

"I started cycling from a really young age – around eight years old. I’m naturally a competitive person in whatever I do, even if it’s just playing Ben Swift in a game of chess. I want to beat him", he explained also that he tried a lot of sports before beginning cycling. "You can’t really specialize at that age. I did cross-country running and rugby. I started to enter bike races when I was an under-12. We started to travel a little bit and I really started to take it seriously when I got to about 15 or 16."

He related that he was not a good schoolchild and he advices the young generation. "At that point I had my eye set on that goal. When I was growing up I always wanted to be a professional and I looked up to those guys. It was always what I wanted to do. The only other thing I could maybe see myself doing was being in the army."

Then, he catched the attention of the national federation. "I was always on the British scene. As an under-16 and as a junior I was on the British Cycling Olympic Development Programme. So the natural progression for me was to get a place on the Academy, which I got. That’s when it really got serious and when I jumped on the Academy my mindset really switched to; ‘Okay this is my job now and I’ve got to commit 100 percent.’ Happily it worked out."

"I look back at those years so fondly. It was some of the most fun I’ve had. Me, Mark Christian and Pete Kennaugh were always up to no good. We played hard and worked hard at the same time."

He remains conscient that his parents made a lot of sacrifices. "Without them and the financial sacrifices they made for us to be able to travel and buy me the equipment I needed, plus the time and effort they put in, the answer is no, I wouldn’t be here without them. Also my brother Matt. Yes he’s my brother, but he’s my best mate at the same time. We raced and travelled the country together so I have really fond memories of it all."

Now, he is the future of Team Sky. "We are role models to some people. There’s probably not many, but there are a few people out there who look up to myself. You’ve got to act in a certain manner and at the right time be the perfect professional."

After his good result at Paris-Roubaix (8th), we have to follow him in the next months and years.