Rowe Says Classics Campaign Was Close But No Cigar

Luke Rowe has hailed his Classics campaign as promising after a crash dashed his Paris-Roubaix victory hopes.

The Cardiff flier has targeted the cobbled Monument and had gone in to the race as Team Sky’s joint leader.

But hopes of following up his fifth place in the Tour of Flanders the week before by winning his first classic were ruined by a crash then puncture.

The 26-year-old said: “Close but no cigar kind of sums up the whole campaign.

“I’ve been knocking on the door in quite a few of them, but haven’t got a podium in any of them, haven’t quite reached the top.

“Certainly year on year, and if you look at last year compared to this year, it’s pretty promising.

“Already I’m thinking about next year and Paris-Roubaix.

“It’s my favourite race of the year and I absolutely love it, so already focus switches to this time next year and I’m gunning for it.

“Hopefully I can come back and have a good run and try and win it.”

Rowe crashed on the Orchies cobbled and then punctured to finish 14th, two minutes behind the winner Mat Hayman of Australia.