Despite having won smaller Classics, Team Sky are yet to land a Monument in their six year career. Luke Rowe, eighth in Paris-Roubaix this year, says the team’s first big one-day win is not far off.

"Every year we say next year but it is only a matter of time. The riders are there and on any given day we can win a monument with a number of riders. It’s just waiting for that day for everything to come together and the stars to align," Rowe told Cyclingnews. "We’re knocking on that door. Every year we’re winning a couple of classics which is no mean feat. I think it’s only a matter of time and hopefully it’s next year but if not then we’ll crack on."

25 year old Rowe’s great ride in Roubaix, coupled with Geraint Thomas taking the team’s biggest one-day win at E3, plus Ian Stannard defending his Omloop Het Nieuwsblad crown, prompted 25 year old Rowe to say this was Sky’s best Classics season yet.

"I think we definitely rode the best that we’ve ever ridden. We rode on the front and we weren’t afraid to take them on."

Rowe personally wants to develop in the Classics and is looking for an improvement in 2016. He even hopes for leadership in some of the smaller Classics, a case which may be helped by Thomas’ decision to target stage races.

"I would like to try and step it up another level in the Classics next year," says Rowe. "It’s hard to go into a race with Team Sky, with the Classics line-up that we’ve got - in Stannard and G [Thomas] - as a leader. But certainly in some of the smaller ones and the semi-classics, I’d like to go in as joint leader and have a chance there. That being said, I’m one of the first guys to put my hand up to help the boys and I don’t mind doing that. It would definitely be nice to have a go at the Classics and have a bit of a free rein and see what I can do."

Sky indicated their faith in Rowe to lead the Classics team down the line by extending the Welshman’s deal until the end of 2018. By that point, he will have ridden for seven years with the team, after going pro with them in 2012.

"It’s just feels a bit like home," he says of Sky. "It’s a great environment to be in, I’ve got a lot of mates there and I’m really looked after within the team. There’s nothing that I want and I don’t have. My programme is exactly how I want it. I work with Rod Ellingworth and he’s incredible. There’s nothing I’m missing out on. It’s everything I want."