Tony Gallopin has always been one of the select few riders who have excelled in both the Flemish and the Ardennes classics. However, he has now decided to skip the cobbled races to focus fully on the hilly one-day races.

Tony Gallopin was one of the Frenchmen who made the 2015 Tour de France a memorable one for the local fans. With one day in yellow, a stage victory a few days later, a contract extension and the marriage with professional cyclist Mario Rousse has made 2014 wonderful for the Lotto-Soudal rider but now he has turned his attention to 2015.

Gallopin has decided to focus fully on the Ardennes classics. In addition to the Tour of Flanders, the hard one-day races are the most enjoyable for the Frenchman.

"The Tour of Flanders remains remains the most beautiful of a all races for me as it made me love cycling," he tells sudinfo.be. However, he has decided to skip the Flemish classics in 2015. "In consultation with the staff, I decided that I want to test myself 100% in the Ardennes. I will devote myself to this great week with Amstel-Flèche-Liege. For once, I won't go there with what I have left in my legs."

Gallopin has decided to skip Paris-Roubaix and De Ronde to focus on the Ardennes but he has not lost focus on the Tour de France which is a special event for every Frenchman. The Frenchman plans to return to the Grand Tour in a quest to repeat the success of the 2014 edition.