Doull eyeing Tour of Flanders selection ahead of race Down Under

BySportsbeat

Updated 11/01/2017 at 16:00 GMT

Owain Doull is confident his first major race in Team Sky colours can help him seal selection for April's Tour of Flanders.

Owain Doull

Image credit: AFP

The 23-year-old will compete in Australia's Tour Down Under from January 14-22, where he will be joined by Team Sky teammates and fellow Welshmen Geraint Thomas and Luke Rowe.

Doull, who won team pursuit gold at the Rio Olympic Games last year, joined Team Sky ahead of the 2017 season from Team Wiggins, and insists a good performance in Belgium is his main target for the new campaign.

But first comes the race in Australia, and it's one that Doull admits will really test his ability.

Flèche Wallonne Women

Highlights: Niewiadoma reigns supreme at Fleche Wallone Femme

00:06:10

9 hours ago

Owain Doull (GBR) of Britain and Ed Clancy (GBR) of Britain celebrate winning the race and setting a new world record

Image credit: Reuters

"My big aim for the year is that big week in April in the Tour of Flanders," he said.

"I've raced on the road to a decent level before, but never anything world tour.

"I'm looking forward to getting my first proper race with Sky under my belt and doing my job, and trying to put a good performance in for the team."

Following in the footsteps of his Welsh teammates, Doull knows only too well how beneficial competing in the Tour Down Under will be for his career.

Owain Doull (GBR) of Britain celebrates winning the race and setting a new world recor

Image credit: Reuters

"Speaking to people like Luke and Geraint, they say it's a really good way to start your year," he said.

"You have to come out to Australia quite early, do a couple of weeks of training then obviously straight into the first world tour race of the year.

"It's going to be good to get a good one under my belt quite early. It's a nice way of doing it as well, getting away from the cold and the winter of Cardiff and escaping to the sun and getting a consistent block of work done.

"There's no distractions and no problems like ice on the road."

Flèche Wallonne Women

Niewiadoma sprints to last-gasp victory at Fleche Wallonne Femmes

9 hours ago

Flèche Wallonne Women

‘Gets the win she was searching for!’ – Niewiadoma takes long awaited triumph

00:02:00

10 hours ago

Flèche Wallonne Men

Highlights: Williams triumphs at La Fleche Wallonne for biggest win of career

00:05:34

11 hours ago

Join 3M+ users on app

Stay up to date with the latest news, results and live sports

Download

Scan me