Ian Stannard of Team Sky has echoed fellow Classics rival Fabian Cancellara’s comments on Tom Boonen’s injury, saying he is gutted for the Classics legend, even if it leaves him one less rival to fight against in Flanders and Roubaix.

"I feel gutted for him,” Stannard told Cycling Weekly. “I know the work that I put in, and he probably does the same. It’s a lot for him to put in and then for it all to be over due to a crash. I had it happen to me last year as well. I feel pretty sorry for him.”

Stannard was speaking at Tirreno-Adriatico, a race he is riding to get more distance in his legs ahead of the Classics, the Brit’s big goal for the season.

“I just need some good racing, some hard racing. I need to ride hard on the climbs, stretch myself and have good training days for the upcoming classics. That’s what makes the difference.”

After an injury-ridden season last year, Stannard is full of confidence after strong rides in the opening Classics weekend, where he won his second consecutive Omloop Het Niewusblad title.

“My confidence is good after some problems last year. I had a hard winter’s training, not knowing where I was and not having all the racing behind me. There was quite a bit of uncertainty, so it was nice to go to Australia and Qatar and do well, then come to Nieuwsblad and go really well,” continued Stannard.

“My level of fitness is definitely slightly better than last year. I still have this race to go and a bit of training before the Classics. It’s just going to get better. I’m training harder, getting fitter, getting in racing kilometres.”