Michal Kwiatkowski will be skipping the cobbled classics in order to peak his form for the Ardennes classics.
The Polish rider and Team Sky decided this winter to skip this season the Tour of Flanders, Dwars door Vlaanderen, Gent-Wevelgem and E3 Harelbeke. Last year Kwiatkowski outsprinted Peter Sagan to win E3 Harelbeke.
“With all due respect to Harelbeke, for me only the Monuments count,” said the rider to Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad. “The Tour of Flanders was disappointing and the Ardennes classics were even worse. I have come to an age in my career where I have to plan better if I want to win. Last winter I had some decisions to make.
“I want to do better than 2015 when I won the Amstel Gold Race. I chose the Ardennes classics and my team immediately agreed. If I will miss Flanders? Of course. But sometimes you have to make choices and follow your mind instead of your heart,”.
After the Volta ao Algarve the Team Sky rider will race in Strade Bianche, Tirreno-Adriatico, Milan-SanRemo and Tour of the Basque Country before the Ardennes.
