It’s coming to that time of year, the time of year that Fabian Cancellara loves the most. He’ll spend a month or so riding in the desert before starting his classics campaign with Strade Bianche. Okay, that race isn’t a classic but it is in our hearts, really, isn’t it?

This excellent CyclingTips interview with the Big Swiss has thrown up some interesting quotes – all in marvelous Fabianese, of course.

In this coming season I will not just focus on the Classics and then the worlds. … I am trying to compete and start with the small things, the basic stuff.

Then to grow up in the way of a pyramid. The top is actually what the Classics are, so the last piece of this pyramid must be the big races. I am thinking about going back to base, instead of just living on the high level of the big races.

There’s no disputing that Spartacus has proved himself to be one of cycling’s greatest classics riders but to put icing on the cake, if he is victorious at Flanders again he will be the only rider to have won it four times. And if he wins it again this year, he will be only the second rider to have won Flanders three years in a row. I, for one, am hoping the pyramid building goes to plan.