Next we had a victory at the Paris-Nice Prologue. The winning continued, as did a string of second places. Of course we would prefer to win, but still we were almost always there in the finale. In Milano - Sanremo there was the crash of Kwiatkowski and Stybar on the downhill of the Poggio. If not for that bad luck we had the chance to win or get on the podium there as well. Gent-Wevelgem, E3 Harelbeke, Flanders and Roubaix, all the Cobbled Classics, as well as the Ardennes Classics we almost never missed the podium or we won. I don't think any other team did the same.

I think the team spirit is quite good. I saw a team that was focused, and if you want to win or be a protagonist, you have to be in the front and there has to be a bit of nervousness. If everyone is too relaxed for sure you won't have results. In the Northern races we didn't have Tom Boonen, who is really the leader of the team. So, it gave the chance for the other guys to have the responsibility and they did very well. We also discovered some young talent, like Yves Lampaert. The other guys like Niki Terpstra and Zdenek Stybar confirmed what we already knew about them. Key podium places in the Cobbled Classics. In the Ardennes Classics we anticipated being the underdog at these races and I think we had the best campaign in the history of the team. The World Champion Kwiatkowski won Amstel Gold Race and Julian Alaphilippe was really the discovery of the season so far. He was 7th in Amstel Gold Race, and then 2nd in La Fleche Wallonne and Liege-Bastogne-Liege at 22-years-old, and his first time at those races.

Considering all these things, I am a happy manager. We are ranked number one in the UCI WorldTour for a reason, and it is because we are the only team who can say we've been there going for the victory in all kinds of situations, from January until the end of April.

Let's keep going on with this tension and winning mood in the future races!

Not bad for a team who has too much second places only 21 victories @Etixx_QuickStep #OurWay happy man so far that's total team effort

— Patrick Lefevere (@PatLefevere) April 27, 2015

"The most important thing at Amstel Gold Race is to be awake and in front, with your team supporting you, from the start," Kwiatkowski said. "Anything can happen and you don't need to really know the key point of the race because it is everywhere. You can lose a lot of energy even nine kilometers after the start with the first climb. You have to pace yourself. There are so many important moments. Maybe you cannot win the race in those places, but you can lose it for sure if something unpredictable happens. The favorites are always supported by their teams knowing this and that's why it may seem like a climb like the Cauberg is a key moment. But for sure, there is important work to be done before and after that point. You have to be flexible for the situation of the race and be sure that you have enough teammates around you to react to actions.

"I think a guy like Philippe Gilbert knows so well this climb, and it's not easy to be with him at the top if he were to attack on the Cauberg," Kwiatkowski continued. "But last year I made a mistake of chasing full gas Samuel Sanchez, and I missed the acceleration of Gilbert because of it. I think that was an error on my part. He is well prepared in and in shape, so it won't be easy. But I'm more focused on my effort and where I have to be before the Cauberg, and on the Cauberg, and how fast I need to be climbing it. I'm not really thinking about where Gilbert, or other contenders like Tim Wellens or Michael Matthews, might be in relation to before, on, or after the Cauberg. I'm thinking about myself and what I need to do. As I said, you have to be flexible. They say there will be a tailwind on the Cauberg, which helps for sure the rider who can be alone on the top of the Cauberg. There is a better chance of arriving solo at the final with a tailwind, but anything can happen. Of course I have to have good legs in the final to even consider the situation of going for the victory. I think I have prepared as best I could to be in good condition and be part of the actions for the finale. I just came from Pais Vasco, which is a really difficult parcours and is hard to really determine where you are ahead of the Ardennes Classics. But I think my preparation going into these races, with races like Milano-Sanremo, Paris-Nice, and Pais Vasco, put me in the right direction to be ready for Amstel Gold Race tomorrow."

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Sarah Young: Which cyclist did you idolise when you were growing up and most wanted to be like?

Niki: Cipollini. He was a great rider, and always had something new with the jerseys and the outfits. Now everybody has something hi-vis yellow or something like that. But back then it was cool. It was stylish. He was the first one.

Paxton Hyde: Niki, what is your favorite thing to do when you're not cycling?

Niki: Car racing, and playing with the kids.

Troy Collett: How much doyou eat and drink during the race and how do you recover after burning close to 10,000 calories?

Niki: I'd say on average we have about four Etixx Sports Nutrition gels and eight Etixx Sports Nutrition bars. When I come home I've got a beer in the fridge (laughs).

James CobLb what did it feel like to ride into the velodrome alone and cross the line in Roubaix last year?

Niki: It was a great feeling to finally win that cobble, It was incredible.

Zachary Slavens How has your track background benefited your road season, and do you for see more riders returning to the track?

Niki: For me it's a good preparation in the winter, and also a good thing to stay in shape during the winter. I really like to do it, the Six-days. I think it's a good way to start the season, as I also race Six Days of Rotterdam in January.

Richard Powell What's on your playlist whilst warming up?

Niki: Some hard house music!

Thomas Forde: Seriously though, do you ride by the numbers or by the feeling in your heart and mind?

Niki: Most of the time I don't have any sensor on my bike, so I go purely by my feeling.

Spencer Ralston What is your one guilty pleasure? Candy? Beer? Not shaving your legs everyday?

Niki: Good eating. I take a little too much portion wise. It's not anything specific. A good Dutch Croquette is a good example of something I like to eat, and a little too much of it.

Akari Yamamoto: Niki, I'm wishing you success in the coming Paris-Roubaix just like last year . Let me ask you a question: with whom do you like sharing a room the best in your team and why?

Niki: With Iljo Keisse. We are comfortable with each other on the road and also when we ride together in the Six-Days. He's a friend of mine and it's good you can be totally relaxed in the room. If you frequently change roommates it's not always relaxing.

Daniel Aguiar you usually ride on the Venge, why is it your choice? thanks

Niki: Because it's so aerodynamic. I like the behavior of the bike, but also my strength is to be in the breakaway. Then you need to be as aerodynamic as possible. So the bike really suits my riding style.

Tinneke Ceulemans Do you remember your very first race you won? How old were you? Did you ever believe back then you could become such a great rider like you are today?

Niki: I was eight years old and I still remember it. It was at my home bike club. I was just riding for fun at the time and didn't think about the future as it is now. But it felt good to win, that's for sure!

Isaac Onions: If you were to give any advice to anyone who wants to be a pro, what would it be?

Niki: If you really want to do it, if it is really your passion, you have to go 100 percent for it. This isn't something you can go for half-heartedly. It's a full commitment.

On the eve of the Tour of Flanders, the spotlights are once again on team manager Patrick Lefevere's World Tour cycling team. With five victories in the last ten editions of this mythical classic, the Etixx – Quick-Step Pro Cycling Team hopes to add another prize to its trophy cabinet. In this light, the news about Quick-Step renewing its commitment to the team comes as a welcome boost for its talent-packed roster.

A mutually beneficial partnership

Quick-Step's love of cycling started in 1999 when the flooring division of the UNILIN Group entered the peloton as co-sponsor of the Mapei – Quick-Step Cycling Team. Four seasons later, in 2003, Quick-Step stepped up this commitment when it became one of the main sponsors of cycling team of Patrick Lefevere. The 12 seasons since then have been a success on all fronts. While Patrick Lefevere forged one of the strongest teams in professional cycling history, Quick-Step gradually raised worldwide awareness about its brand.

"Quick-Step has been there since the very start of our team", says Etixx - Quick-Step CEO Patrick Lefevere. "I believe our loyal and mutually beneficial partnership with Quick-Step is one of the most powerful in cycling. Quick-Step is part of the DNA of this team. Together we have written some great pages in cycling history and I'm sure there will be more to come throughout the next two years. We're proud to have two main sponsors with a profile that is so similar to that of our team: Belgian roots, but with an international impact and likewise recognition. We'd like to thank Quick-Step for their continued trust in us, as a team and as an important way to increase their brand awareness."

Sharing the desire to win

Paul De Cock, President at UNILIN, division flooring, explains the chemistry between Quick-Step and the world of cycling: "Over the past sixteen seasons, our international sponsoring strategy has been pivotal in enhancing the reputation of our brand. I don't think that we could have ever found a better match than this one. The resolve of Niki Terpstra, the sheer power of Tom Boonen, the elegance of Michal Kwiatkowski ... I think the perfect rider has a lot in common with a Quick-Step floor: a fine blend of robustness and style. What's more, we share with the team a common passion for design and innovation as well as an eye for the smallest details."

Since the team welcomed Czech businessman and cycling aficionado Zdenek Bakala on board in 2011, the team has been stronger than ever. De Cock: "His drive and commitment to make a lasting impact on the world of cycling have been an inspiration to all of us at Quick-Step. We look forward to the coming years. Not only do we have some of the most talented riders of the pack, we also have an outstanding staff and top-notch infrastructure in place. I am sure this partnership will continue to prove a successful one, both for the team, and for Quick-Step as a leading flooring brand."

The signing of the sponsorship contract! @QuickStepFloor @PatLefevere pic.twitter.com/gr6JiCGDDW

— Etixx - Quick-Step (@Etixx_QuickStep) April 3, 2015