Belgium's Thijsje Benoot (Sunweb) says he will be looking for another big win this season when racing resumes later this year The 26-year-old, who won a stage in Paris-Nice in March (second overall), is aiming for a stage win in the Tour de France and a one-day classic victory

"I'm looking forward to the Tour de France," he said.

"The team didn't want me to be an overall contender in this year's Tour, and I don't think that will change," he told Het Nieuwsblad in a Facebook Live interview on Wednesday.

"I don't want to finish the Tour completely exhausted, because this year the Classics schedule was changed right after the Tour.

"If you want to ride the classics, the Tour de France is the only [Grand Tour] option. The Giro d'Italia (October 3-25) overlaps with the classics in Flanders and Wallonia, and the Vuelta a España (October 20-November 8) starts too late."

"It will be tempting to take part in as many races as possible, but two months between the start of the Tour (August 29) and Paris-Roubaix (October 25) is a long time to be in top condition.

"But I'll leave that [my program] to the team to decide. Whatever happens, it will be possible to race the big classics every week."

The revised UCI calendar will open on August 1 with Strade Bianche.

"I hope Strade fits in with my program, too. It should go well." But with the race now in mid-summer instead of March, it probably won't suit me."

"In Tuscany [in August] the temperature goes from 30 to 35 degrees. But I'm not going to let that discourage me. I need to be able to race in all conditions."

Benoot said he is also looking forward to Liège-Bastogne-Liège, which was postponed to October 4.

"It's two weeks after the end of the Tour de France, but we always do well in the Grand Tours. The chances of bad weather are greater in October than in April, and it's great that the Tour de Flanders on October 18 takes place after the Ardennes Classique. It offers a completely different approach and makes this challenge extra special."

"The Tour de Flanders is a great opportunity to get to know the Tour de Flanders and the Tour of Flanders.