Doull Loving The Classics Now

Owain Doull is relishing the rest of his campaign after producing his best result in a Classic.

The Cardiff-born rider just missed out on a top 10 coming home 11th at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.

Doull was a consistent presence at the front of the race in Belgium.

The 24-year-old said “I’m really happy with 11th. I wasn’t expecting it.

“I didn’t feel amazing, so its quite reassuring to perform well when you don’t necessarily know whether you’re in that form.

“I felt pretty comfortable all day, to be honest. There weren’t points in the race where I was really struggling, it just felt like I was in control and able to respond when I needed to.”

Olympic champ Doull’s season was hit last year when he had to have his appendix taken out when set for his Sky debut in Australia.

But he is now targeting to rest of the Classics with the team knowing he will have some hard miles under his belt.

Doull, speaking to www.teamsky.com, said: “I didn’t do Opening Weekend last year because I had my appendicitis and had come back from Australia so it was a totally different way for me to start the year.

“It is reassuring and it’s a good place to be able to build from.

“Of course it gives me confidence,.

“Last year I went to Abu Dhabi as my first race before I came here to do the Classics later on.

“I started at E3 Harelbeke and Gent-Wevelgem and I just took an absolute kicking! I barely finished any of them so to be in the race this time feels good.

“Compared to last year, I’ll also have 15 or 16 race days under my belt before the races like E3 and Gent Wevelgem even start.

“It is reassuring and it’s a good place to be able to build from.”