John Degenkolb: "It is the main focus to stay healthy and come through all these races in a good condition"

A former Milano-Sanremo and Paris-Roubaix winner, John Degenkolb is eyeing success at the Tour des Flandres and Paris-Roubaix after a consistent but not impressive classics campaign so far. The Team DSM rider is paying particular attention to his preparation for Paris-Roubaix.

“I don’t feel too bad. It could have been better, after having to skip Milan-San Remo. I got a little bit sick after Paris-Nice. That cost me for sure a little bit of condition, and I am trying to build it up through the spring – direction Roubaix. There is still a little bit of time before that," Degenkolb told VeloNews.

“We also have some other important guys on the team, so the pressure is not only on myself, and that’s also what I enjoy quite a lot, to be honest. The focus isn’t only on me. It feels nice to be back in a familiar atmosphere and I am really enjoying being back on this team. It’s a big family for me,"he added.

Alongside Degenkolb will be likely team leader Soren Kragh Andersen. After strong performances at Paris-Nice and Milano-Sanremo, the Dane has brought his form over to Belgium and is a candidate for this Sunday's Tour des Flandres. Although the team has struggled to reach good form and results - it is the only World Tour team that is yet to win this season - it will have Casper Pedersen and Nils Eekhoff as possible outsiders for the race too.

“Whoever has not been sick will be at advantage. It is the main focus to stay healthy and come through all these races in a good condition. It is like it is. Every team has to fight it and struggle with it. We will see what happens. I am always trying to be on a good level. I am hoping for that still," the German concluded.

Team DSM for Tour des Flandres: John Degenkolb, Nico Denz, Nils Eekhoff, Jonas Iversby, Joris Nieuwenhuis, Casper Pedersen and Kevin Vermaerke.