Sky rider looking ahead to Sunday’s showdown on the cobbles at Paris-Roubaix

Geraint Thomas’s steady rise to the top continued on Sunday with another excellent ride on the cobbles. The reigning British road champion finished 10th out of the dozen stars who made the final selection in the waning kilometers heading into the finish in Meerbeke.

While 10th isn’t the type of result that gets a name etched in the history books, at still only 24, and still only his second Ronde van Vlaanderen, his effort was notable.

Speaking with the BBC after the race, the Olympic Gold medalist from Cardiff expressed his satisfaction with his day on the roads of Flanders.

“To get a top 10 finish was great really. It’s one of the biggest races in the world.”

In a race like Flanders, experience and knowledge of the roads are two factors that can’t be discounted, and as Thomas points out, it’s something he lacks.

“It was only the second time I’ve done the [Flanders] race.”

There’s no questioning the simple fact though: the runner-up to Nick Nuyens in Waregem at this year’s Dwars door Vlaanderen has a knack for the cobbles. The Welshman’s 2nd place finish in last year’s Paris-Roubaix stage at the Tour de France was a good omen, and with his two results so far this season on cobbles, it appears Wales has a flahute in the making.

With that in mind, the cobbles are still not a major focus for Thomas, and it’s something he concedes when looking back at the competition he faced.

“So many guys are up for it, it’s the highlight of the year for a lot of people.”

It’s not just the riders either, according to Thomas. It’s the whole country.

“In Belgium it’s just so big. The build-up to the race and the amount of people who are out on the roads watching, it’s just phenomenal.”

Looking ahead to Sunday’s Hell of the North, the rider who held the Best Young Rider jersey for four stages in last year’s Tour says he’s ready.

“It’s a similar standard really. All the same guys will be there fighting for the win again. It’s tough, but we’ll just give it our best.”

Along with the likes of contenders Edvald Boasson Hagen and Juan Antonio Flecha and the strong Sky supporting cast, there’s little doubt that Brailsford’s boys will play a big role in the battle to Roubaix.