"I dream of winning a cobblestone classic with UAE Team Emirates XRG. Something that was not possible at INEOS" - Jonathan Narváez

Jhonatan Narváez has shown clear evolution over the past few years at INEOS Grenadiers and became a quality puncheur - who beat Tadej Pogacar directly at the opening stage of the Giro d'Italia this year. With UAE Team Emirates - XRG now however he hopes to get freedom in the cobbled classics, and battle the likes of Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert

"I would like to win more and I dream of winning a cobblestone classic with UAE Team Emirates XRG. Something that was not possible at INEOS" the Ecuadorian champion told Sporza. Although he has a much stronger block in the Emirati team, he seemingly did not have the space he wanted in the Belgian races.

This year Narváez was 6th at the E3 Saxo Classic and raced Gent-Wevelgem, before taking a break and preparing for the Giro d'Italia where he wore the pink jersey after his win on the opening day. In previous years he's raced Flanders some times but hasn't finished inside the Top20.

On the tarmac, the 27-year old has proven to be one of the very best in the world. But he doesn't just want to settle with that: "I actually prepare every year with the aim of following Van der Poel and Van Aert in the cobbled classics. If you can't beat Van der Poel and Van Aert alone, you can succeed as a team. With UAE Team Emirates XRG, we have a strong core for the Flemish races. We have several cards to play."

This year Tadej Pogacar will race the cobbled classics including Flanders so it will be every hard for him to have a leading role in the team, but this could potentially happen in the future, whilst he may have freedom in other World Tour classics. "I won't say it's impossible to win the Tour of Flanders one day, but it will be very difficult. I would be very satisfied with a podium," he concludes.