Don't ask Niki to stick with the group; he won't listen. Don't ask him to wait for the finale to go on the attack; he will already be a few kilometers ahead in the break. Niki is the master of long breaks. He has a knack for choosing the right time to attack and is an excellent pacesetter. This year Niki managed to capture two extraordinary successes, the Dwars door Vlaanderen and the Dutch national championship road race, after remarkably long breaks. A fantastic supporter in Boonen's historical victories at the Ronde and Roubaix, Niki also had the honor and the task of participating in the victorious World Championship TTT. His solitary rides have also allowed him to win the coveted prize of Dutch rider of the year. In 2013 Niki will try to thicken his portfolio with other significant races and he will be a critical man next to Boonen in the major classics.