Kurt-Asle Arvesen feels everything is going in the right direction for Team Sky ahead of Paris-Roubaix this weekend.

The 35-year-old's season got off to the perfect start when he helped win the team time trial on the opening day of the Tour of Qatar, but his plans were thrown into turmoil the very next day when he broke his collarbone soon after crossing the start line.

In the weeks that followed the Norwegian underwent surgery to rectify the problem and worked tirelessly to get himself back into race condition.

A strong showing in the Tour of Flanders last weekend underlined his progress and he told us: "I was tired on Monday because it was a big work-out on Sunday. I felt much better than I had in previous races though and everything is going the right direction.

"I'm pretty much back to my best now after my injury and hopefully that will continue at Paris-Roubaix."

Flanders fillip

Team Sky were right to the fore at the Tour of Flanders before Fabian Cancellara and Tom Boonen broke clear and Arvesen added: "We were really happy about how we performed as a team.

"Michael Barry was controlling the early break and once Saxo Bank had had their turn on the front we took control again and neutralised all the other attacks.

"After the top of the Koppenberg and all the way to the Eikenberg we had more numbers at the front than anyone else but both Boonen and Cancellara looked really strong so there wasn't a lot we could do."

The attention now switches to another of the sport's 'Monuments' and Paris-Roubaix remains one of the highlights of the year for Arvesen.

Explaining what makes the race so special he said: "It's the atmosphere, just like at the Tour of Flanders. All the people that line the cobblestones are the ones who make it so special. There's no better race if you're up there at the front and have good legs. You don't feel the cobbles so much."

Mixed memories

Asked which years he remembers most vividly the Norwegian recalled: "In 2008 I was in really good form and came into Arenberg right up on the front and I remember laughing because I was having such a good day, and suddenly I had two flat tyres and my race was over. That was a big disappointment.

"In 2006 though I was riding for Fabian Cancellara when he won and that was a really special day."

The hugely-respected Arvesen now has a key role to play for Team Sky and he's encouraged by everything he's seen so far, adding: "We have a really strong team, some strong bikes, and personally, I love the cobblestones. Our team is perhaps more suited to Paris-Roubaix than it was for the Tour of Flanders so we're all looking forward to it."

And as one of the Team Sky's leaders Arvesen has been struck by just how quickly two of his less-experienced colleages have adapted to the cobbles, saying: "Guys like Ian Stannard and Geraint Thomas have really surprised me during our time in Belgium, especially on Sunday where they were really strong.

"They were both riding the Tour of Flanders for the first time and to finish in the first group there was really impressive. They both have a great future ahead of them."