Rowe targetting classics win before domestique duty for Froome

The 26-year-old is currently racing in the Tour Down Under, and will be on Team Sky's roster for the Herald Sun Tour early next month.

More known for his loyal domestique work in the highest profile race of them all, the Tour de France, Rowe has his own chance to star in the spring classics.

With top ten finishes in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad in each of the last two years, and a fifth place at the Tour of Flanders in 2016, Rowe has a realistic shot at a Monument this year.

But the Welshman knows that after his moment in the spotlight, it will be back to the day job as he aims to help Chris Froome to a third consecutive Tour title in July, and a fourth overall.

"I pretty much know my whole race program for the year, we've split it into two big goals," he admitted.

"First and foremost it's the cobbled classics, that's where my passion is and the races I love to go and perform in.

"Flanders and Roubaix are obviously the big ones for me, but there are five or six big races I'll be aiming for leading up to them.

"After the last race in Australia, Sun Tour, I'll be looking to [Omloop Het] Nieuwsblad and Kuurne [Brussels-Kuurne] full gas and hit the ground running.

"So from now, I'm just building to that first block of the cobbled classics and then after that it'll be a complete role reversal, turning into a domestique for Froome at the Tour."

Sportsbeat 2017