Despite their search for a Monument victory going on, Team Sky can look back on this spring campaign with a great deal of pride.

Geraint Thomas’ first cobbled Classic win, at E3 Harelbeke, raised hopes of more to follow –particularly after Ian Stannard’s Omloop Het Nieuwsblad victory, when he was outnumbered 3:1 by Etixx-QuickStep in the finale.

And despite Thomas lacking ‘the extra five per cent’ he needed at the Tour of Flanders and then crashing out of Paris-Roubaix, he will be among the contenders again next season.

That he started as favourite for the Tour of Flanders just highlights how far he has come, and with several strings to his bow we will no doubt see plenty more of him before the season is up.

And it is not just Thomas – who also finished third at Gent-Wevelgem – who emerged from the cobbled campaign with plenty to cheer – his compatriot Luke Rowe was in great form at Paris-Roubaix having been similarly strong at the E3.

Rowe put in a great ride for team-mate Bradley Wiggins, chasing hard in the front group alongside the equally impressive Stannard.

Both had previously done a spoiling role as Thomas won the E3, camping stubbornly at the front of the chasing group to halt proceedings.

Thomas, Stannard and Wiggins were viewed as the men to watch for Team Sky this spring, but Luke Rowe – after his eighth place at Paris-Roubaix – has added his name to that list.

A self-confessed lover of the cobbles, expect him to play an even bigger role in 12 months’ time.