Owain Doull hoping for Tour of Flanders selection in first year at Team Sky
Welshman looking for a strong ride in the Tour Down Under to stand him in good stead for the rest of the season
New Team Sky recruit Owain Doull says that he is hoping to earn a ride in the Tour of Flanders through good performances in early season races.
The 23-year-old said that he was aiming to use the Tour Down Under, his first race as a full time Team Sky rider, to establish his place in the squad and get a good block of early season training.
>>> Owain Doull on Team Sky: 'This pressure is nothing like the Olympic team pursuit'
"I'm looking forward to getting my first proper race with Sky under my belt and doing my job and trying to put a good performance in for the team," Doull told BBC Radio Wales.
"It's going to be good to get a good one under my belt quite early. It's a nice way of doing it as well, getting away from the cold and the winter of Cardiff and escaping to the sun and getting a consistent block of work done."
Watch: Owain Doull and Ed Clancy on life off the track at Rio 2016
Doull hopes that impressing in early season races will put him in consideration for a ride at the Tour of Flanders, saying that he is looking to follow a similar path to fellow Welsh riders Luke Rowe and Geraint Thomas.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
"Speaking to people like Luke and Geraint, they say it's a really good way to start your year.
"You have to come out to Australia quite early, do a couple of weeks of training then obviously straight into the first WorldTour race of the year."
The Tour Down Under will be Doull's first race as a full time professional for Team Sky having raced as a stagiaire at Paris-Tours the Abu Dhabi Tour at the end of last season.
He will go into the race as a support rider for Geraint Thomas and Sergio Henao in the search for overall victory, while also looking after sprinter Danny Van Poppel in the flat stages.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Henry Robertshaw began his time at Cycling Weekly working with the tech team, writing reviews, buying guides and appearing in videos advising on how to dress for the seasons. He later moved over to the news team, where his work focused on the professional peloton as well as legislation and provision for cycling. He's since moved his career in a new direction, with a role at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
-
Among market turmoil, Colnago boasts €55 million in sales: CEO shares the brand’s secret
Colnago’s growth has tripled since the brand’s acquisition by new majority stakeholders in 2020 and seems impervious to the downturn. Here's why.
By Anne-Marije Rook Published
-
Why e-bike torque numbers matter more than you think
You should choose an e-bike based on torque, not just power
By Paul Norman Published
-
'It was time to change': No regrets for Rod Ellingworth after leaving Ineos Grenadiers
New Tour of Britain race director says he is still on good terms with Dave Brailsford after resigning from team last year
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'I’m just here to enjoy it': Tom Pidcock on his surprise Paris-Roubaix appearance
British rider was a late addition to the Ineos Grenadiers team for the race across the pavé
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Elisa Longo Borghini pips Kasia Niewiadoma on the line to win second Tour of Flanders
In-form Italian praises Lidl-Trek team after repeating feat she achieved in 2015
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'It's one of the hardest races I've ever done' - Mathieu van der Poel on his historic Tour of Flanders victory
World champion becomes seventh man in history to win the race three times
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Mathieu van der Poel wins record-equalling third Tour of Flanders with 45km attack
Dutchman pulls off audacious long-range coup to claim Monument victory
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Wout van Aert’s Classics dreams go up in smoke, but all is not lost for Visma-Lease a Bike
Attention turns to another promising squad member after their talisman is ruled out of Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix and Amstel-Gold Race with 'several fractures'
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Wout van Aert 'in a good place' ahead of Tour of Flanders despite Visma-Lease a Bike illness and injury crisis
Loss of Christophe Laporte and Dylan van Baarle 'a big blow' says DS Grischa Niermann as team builds for Monument double header
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Five things to look out for ahead of the Tour of Flanders
Lidl-Trek's impressive form and Mathieu van der Poel's explosive start to the Classics season could make for quite the contest this weekend
By Tom Thewlis Published