Ian Stannard on his 2015 Omloop win

Picture the scene. With 40 kilometres left of the first Cobbled Classic of the season you hit the front group but then look around and realise your three companions are all from the same team.

That's exactly what happened to Ian Stannard in the 2015 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. The Ettix - Quick-Step trio of Tom Boonen, Niki Terpstra and Stijn Vandenbergh went clear with 'Yogi' on the Belgian cobbles and, at the time, he admits he thought he was "absolutely screwed".

But, somehow, he defied the odds and emerged victorious, defending his title and claiming one of the most dramatic wins in Team Sky's history.

Let him talk you through how he did it...

Ian Stannard on his 2015 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad win

The first of a double-header making up the Classics opening weekend in Belgium - Omloop Het Nieuwsblad routinely provides a thrilling introduction to the cobbles.

The 2017 route starts and finishes in Gent, taking in 198.3 kilometres of Flanders' most punishing terrain. 13 cobbled 'hellingen' climbs must be negotiated, with many linked together by the 10 flat cobbled sections.

The race has been good to Team Sky in the past, with our riders achieving a top finish of at least fourth place or better in the last seven seasons. That record includes three victories (2010 Juan Antonio Flecha, 2014/15 Ian Stannard), and seven podium finishes. Luke Rowe was the team's best-placed finisher last year with fourth.

TV coverage kicks off at 13:45 on Eurosport 2.

Don't forget, the Classics action continues a day later with the more sprinter-friendly Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne.