Tom Boonen should have made a deal with Mathew Hayman to win Paris-Roubaix, says former winner
Former Paris-Roubaix champion Eddy Planckaert says Tom Boonen made a mistake by not offering Mathew Hayman a deal to win Paris-Roubaix
Tom Boonen should have come to a deal with Mathew Hayman to allow him to win his fifth Paris-Roubaix in April, according to 1990 winner Eddy Planckaert.
Het Laatste Nieuws reports that Planckaert, who works as an analyst for Sporza, said that Boonen had made a "big mistake" by not offering Hayman something to effectively throw the race, as was allegedly common in the past.
But former rider and now race director of Ghent-Wevelgem Frank Hoste replied that this sort of practice is in the past, with the millions of pounds of sponsor money now in the sport.
Planckaert is reported to have said in Dag Allemaal magazine: "Look, if it were me in Tom's situation, I would have made a deal with Hayman. That guy was satisfied with the situation in which he's able to compete with the best riders in this race.
"Just promise him 'something' in exchange for his cooperation/assistance. Hayman must have been interested in such a deal, he would never believe that he had a shot at winning."
Watch Mathew Hayman win the 2016 Paris-Roubaix
Hoste admitted that this used to be common practice, but denied that it would have been an option at the 2016 Paris-Roubaix.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
"If you went with two at the line and you finished second, you had to make that you had earned something. This is how it used to be," he told Belgian Radio 1.
"With the budgets now in this sport - between 10 and 25 million [euros] - working for another team out of the question...if anything ever leaked out, it may give a sponsor a reason to quit immediately."
Thank you for reading 20 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.
-
Cycplus Tiny E-Pump AS2 Review - an electric alternative to CO2
Small enough to fit in your pockets, it inflates to 100psi with a 200-second usage per charge
By Paul Grele Published
-
Wout van Aert out of Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix after breaking multiple bones in Dwars door Vlaanderen crash
Belgian suffered broken collarbone and ribs in crash on Wednesday
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Wout van Aert 'in a good place' ahead of Tour of Flanders despite Visma-Lease a Bike illness and injury crisis
Loss of Christophe Laporte and Dylan van Baarle 'a big blow' says DS Grischa Niermann as team builds for Monument double header
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Five things to look out for ahead of the Tour of Flanders
Lidl-Trek's impressive form and Mathieu van der Poel's explosive start to the Classics season could make for quite the contest this weekend
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Wout van Aert gears towards career-defining fortnight in new, enlightened mindset
Belgian admits pressure has weighed heavily on his shoulders in the past as the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix come around once more
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Can Lizzie Deignan bag another Monument? Cycling Weekly’s big predictions for the 2024 season
It is time for our writers to look into their crystal balls and give their predictions for the season ahead
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tour of Flanders, Giro d'Italia, Paris-Roubaix Femmes: Cycling Weekly's races of the year for 2023
Our writers pick their best moments from an enthralling 2023, what do you think?
By Adam Becket Published
-
Jumbo-Visma perfect until it really mattered: Five things we learned from the men's cobbled Classic season
Tadej Pogačar should be lining up a tilt at Paris-Roubaix, Mathieu van der Poel has won almost everything he can, and Ineos Grenadiers underwhelmed
By Adam Becket Published
-
‘It was just agony’: Inside the Paris-Roubaix debuts of four young Brits
Josh Tarling, Zoe Bäckstedt, Sam Watson and Alice Towers lived very different days at the Hell of the North
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Two days in hell: The best images from Paris-Roubaix and Paris-Roubaix Femmes
Take a look at our mega-gallery of some of the best photos from a weekend of brutal racing
By Adam Becket Published