Toms Skujiņš (Lidl-Trek) has been one of many prime performers of the early season, lighting up racing within the lead group at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and taking a hard-fought second place at Strade Bianche, and it received’t be lengthy earlier than he’s again battling it out with the large one-day stars.
The Latvian’s type has earned him extra time on the cobbles in spring, with a return to the bergs and helingen in Flanders pencilled in after he took on Wout van Aert and Visma-Lease a Bike’s tremendous group at Opening Weekend.
Skujiņš finally misplaced out to the Dutch facet’s power in numbers that day, as did the remainder of the peloton, however his stinging assault on the Berendries was an indication of what he might do on the toughest parcours.
“I imply undoubtedly Omloop already modified my program just a little bit,” Skujiņš advised Cyclingnews in Arrone forward of stage 4 at Tirreno-Adriatico.
“I used to be not planning on going again to Belgium for the Cobbled Classics. However now we see that perhaps it is value it for me to go to the hillier ones, so I am going to return.”
For now, Skujiņš has solely Dwars door Vlaanderen on his programme, however Lidl-Trek haven’t obtained full provisional lineups set for E3 Saxo Traditional, Gent-Wevelgem or the Tour of Flanders. There are restricted areas left, however Skujiņš might supply the right match and a viable plan B or C possibility come the finales.
He’s conscious that in contrast to at Strade Bianche, the place he was the designated chief forward of the race, he’ll be extra of a domestique within the cobbled Classics with Mads Pedersen the established focus for the group.
“Strade after all it was tremendous good to have the management,” mentioned Skujiņš. “However once I return to Belgium we have now the ex-world champ, we have now a little bit of a unique discipline there and it’s a unique model of race as nicely – so I will be extra in help there.”
The 2-time Latvian highway champion has had success earlier than, primarily in America the place he racked up three stage wins on the now-defunct Tour of California.
This included his first and solely WorldTour win which he adopted up with a victory at Tre Valli Varesine, however that was in 2018 and his 5 wins since have all come on the Latvian nationwide championships.
Strade Bianche confirmed simply the calibre of rider he’s able to being as the primary mere mortal to cross the road in Siena behind Tadej Pogačar after the Slovenian’s unbelievable 81km solo transfer, even after a puncturing twice and crashing on the 215km route.
One thing new has undoubtedly clicked in 2024 for Skujiņš, though even he might not know what it’s after making fixed adjustments along with his coach who he’s been with since 2016.
“I do know the legs are there. I do know that this winter has been tremendous good, so now it is simply utilizing these alternatives that I get,” mentioned the Latvian.
“Yearly we modify some issues, mess around with some issues. Sadly, yearly we modify not only one factor however just a few, it is at all times laborious to pinpoint what precisely was the factor that labored,” he laughs.
“However clearly already in January camp, truly I used to be feeling tremendous good and I believed that could be a foul signal as a result of often in January camp I undergo lots…however apparently not.”
It’s not been a solo effort, nevertheless, by any means for the 32-year-old in his flying begin to the season, crediting his spouse Abigail Mickey, a former skilled rider and now biking journalist, for supporting his form after turning into dad and mom in 2022.
“I feel I have been very lucky with my daughter and my spouse,” he mentioned.
“My spouse clearly takes a lot of the work, particularly once I’m not there. However I have been fortunate with my daughter as a result of she sleeps tremendous nicely. We just about needed to wake her as much as feed her within the evening as a result of she was not gaining sufficient weight, which is humorous.
“However for certain, with out the help of my spouse, I might not be in the identical form. Simply not have the ability to hold the coaching to the extent I must. However it’s been tremendous good and each time I am dwelling I attempt to take as a lot duty as I can as a result of I take pleasure in it as nicely.”
