Boonen: Four leaders is too many for Belgium at World Championships
Tom Boonen, Greg Van Avermaet, Sep Vanmarcke and Philippe Gilbert are all fighting it out to lead Belgium at the UCI Road World Championships
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter

When is strength not a strength? Etixx-Quick Step rider Tom Boonen believes Belgium's strength in depth may be the country's weakness at the UCI World Championships as the team continues to decide who will go for the win.
Boonen, world champion ten years ago in 2005, is one of four riders with a strong claim to be the protected man in Richmond at the end of September alongside Sep Vanmarcke, Greg Van Avermaet and Philippe Gilbert.
But the 34-year-old says the national team bosses will have to settle on one man to go for the title in Virginia, although he insists there's not rush to decide who.
"Four leaders is too much," Boonen is quoted as saying on Sporza. "In a good scenario we would start with a plan A and a plan B. That is, with one leader in plan A and a possible second leader in plan B."
"But Plan A does not exist at this time. That's not an issue. We're not on the spot and will see what happens this week with the riders."
Secrets of the Toolbox - BMC
All four riders have a strong case for seeing themselves named as the leader based on recent results, with Boonen claiming two podium finishes at this weekend's GP de Fourmies and Brussels Cycle Classic.
Van Avermaet finished fifth at the Vattenfall Cyclassics and had a strong showing at the Eneco Tour, while Vanmarcke finished fourth overall at the Tour du Poitou Charentes.
Gilbert will be hoping for some good finishes at the upcoming GPs de Montreal and Quebec to stake his claim, but Vanmarcke feels that Gilbert's BMC teammate Van Avermaet should be given the nod.
"When we ask for a ride leader, Greg Van Avermaet is the deserving man. He is the greatest security," he told Sporza.
Thank you for reading 10 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Stuart Clarke is a News Associates trained journalist who has worked for the likes of the British Olympic Associate, British Rowing and the England and Wales Cricket Board, and of course Cycling Weekly. His work at Cycling Weekly has focused upon professional racing, following the World Tour races and its characters.
-
-
Bradley Wiggins says he suffered ‘borderline rape’ during three years of 'abuse' by coach
Speaking on Fearne Cotton’s Happy Place podcast, Wiggins says he now “hates cycling” and only ever used the sport as a distraction
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Bikes sell at 80% discount in mega auction
35,000 bikes are up for auction after Moore Large entered administration
By Tom Davidson • Published
-
Glasgow UCI World Championships bags Lidl partnership
Supermarket chain becomes official fresh food partner for the championships taking place in Glasgow in August
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Tom Boonen considers a return to racing: 'I'm considering looking for some competition on the bike again'
After a nearly six-year break from professional cycling, the competitive cycling itch is starting to prickle again for Classics legend Tom Boonen.
By Anne-Marije Rook • Published
-
Adam Blythe unveils 24 carat gold Genesis bike
24 carat gold leaf bike design a collaboration between Genesis, Fat Creations and Blythe
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Ukrainian cyclist disqualified from World Championships after blood sample result
Mykhaylo Kononenko's blood sample revealed the presence of the banned substance tramadol
By Tom Davidson • Published
-
How many calories do you burn winning the World Championship road race?
It’s the equivalent of six margherita pizzas, according to Remco Evenepoel's Strava data
By Tom Davidson • Last updated
-
Don’t expect too much from Zoe Bäckstedt, says teenager’s British Cycling coach
Junior academy coach Emma Trott has warned against piling pressure on the 18-year-old
By Tom Davidson • Published
-
Sky high heart rates and sleepless nights: What it's like to be the parents of a World Champion
Thousands of miles from Wollongong, the parents of Britain’s new time trial world champions battled their nerves
By Tom Davidson • Published
-
Time trial world champion Tobias Foss says he was hoping for top five at best
The Norwegian stunned the race favourites and himself in Wollongong
By Tom Davidson • Last updated