Zdenek Stybar will have the cobbled classics as his big goal of the season, at least until April. Second in Roubaix last year, the Czech rider will be one of the Etixx-Quick Step leaders in the spring classics.

According to Biciciclismo, Stybar (1985) will begin his season at the Challenge of Mallorca in late January and then line up for the Volta ao Algarve, Strade Bianche - which he won in 2015 - Tirreno-Adriatico, and the five WorldTour classics Milan-San Remo, E3 Harelbeke, Ghent Wevelgem, Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix.

In his sixth season with Patrick Lefevere's team, Stybar is one of the key riders in the Flemish spring. In 2015 he made another step: he won Strade Bianche ahead of Van Avermaet and Valverde, he was second in Harelbeke, beaten by Thomas and he was close to the win in the Roubaix velodrome where only Degenkolb was faster. He put the icing on the cake with his victory in Le Havre at the Tour de France.

He is still undecided about the Tour de France as preparation for the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro which is a big goal despite the tough route. As opposed to this, he will skip the World Championships in Qatar which is too flat and ideal for sprinters.

The triple world cyclocross champion (2010, 2011 and 2014) has only done a single cross race this season.