Cycling: Tom Scully sets sights on massive challenge at Paris Roubaix

Tom Scully leads his EF Education First teammates in training for Paris-Roubaix. Photo / Getty

Tom Scully has already helped a teammate claim one of cycling's biggest prizes, and now he wants to be part of the winning team at the sport's most iconic race.

The Kiwi rider was an essential part of EF Education First's victory at the Tour of Flanders last weekend, playing a key role as part of Alberto Bettiol's stunning triumph.

Amazingly, the victory was Bettiol's first in professional cycling, and it came in one of the toughest races in the world. The Tour of Flanders saw 267km of gruelling cobbles and steep hills, and after six hours in the saddle, Bettiol was the strongest man left, attacking late to win by 14 seconds.

He was helped immensely by his teammates — Sebastian Langeveld and Sep Vanmarcke put in huge shifts — while Scully had one of his finest days on a bike, becoming the first New Zealander this century to finish the race as part of the winning squad.

The 29-year-old said being part of victory in one of cycling's five "monuments" was incredible.

"All the riders in the team were really at their best, it showed, and we all played a part," Scully told Radio Sport.

"It's such a sweet moment when it all comes together, where everyone's on their best level and we're able to race like that in the big big race, and to win was just incredible.

"We just wanted to win one race in this Classic squad, but to win the big one, it was like, 'okay, that's what we're capable of now'."

With Scully having performed superbly in his role of covering attacks for the bulk of the race, he eventually crossed the line in 50th, but it was the work he had done to set up Bettiol which drew the accolades.

"For me personally I was really happy with my performance, being able to be there deep into the race final and follow those moves. That's something I've been building into over the last couple of years with the team, and the team's supported me with my role and keeping me in these races. To step up and finally be there that deep in the race at the Tour of Flanders – I'm really happy with how things have been going."

Now, Scully's squad have a chance to complete a historic double at cycling's most iconic race, Paris-Roubaix.

Nicknamed the "Hell of the North", the race features 29 sectors and 54.5km of cobbled racing, and Scully's Education First team have three contenders for overall glory.

While Bettiol isn't riding on Sunday night, Langeveld and Vanmarcke are amongst the top 15 favourites, while Taylor Phinney finished eighth last year.

And, with Scully set to be given a role which sees him cover some attacks, there's a chance he could find himself playing another major part at the business end of a massive race.

"That'll be one big show down there, and we'll hopefully be able to back up.

"We've all got our eyes on Roubaix now. We know we're at a good level, and we're really capable of a big result. We're all just as passionate about Roubaix as we are the Tour of Flanders – it's going to be great."