Tom Boonen 'riding as if wearing blinkers' to stay focused on final ride at Paris-Roubaix
The four-time winner is trying to avoid the emotion around his impending retirement


Tom Boonen (Quick-Step Floors) admits that he is pushing through the madness leading to Sunday's Paris-Roubaix as if wearing blinkers. He will retire after the French Monument, which he already won four times.
>>> Eight things to look out for at Paris-Roubaix
The Belgian raced for the last time on home soil on Wednesday in the Scheldeprijs, which moved the start to his hometown of Mol in celebration.
"Everyone was sympathetic towards me," Boonen explained engulfed by journalists after Scheldeprijs.
"It was really nice to ride the loop around my home in the beginning. This was a tremendously great experience seeing the people, who I can't manage to thank enough.
"But actually, my mind is on Roubaix this Sunday. I'm trying to ride as if wearing blinkers, but it is difficult. Actually, I wasn't that focused in the race."
Boonen snapped into action for team-mate and eventual winner Marcel Kittel and led the blue and white Quick-Step train over the last loop around Schoten.
"Tom Boonen did a good job, as a reward, we got the victory," Kittel explained. "This is his home race, my last race with him before he ends his career, and I am happy we could finish this way."
Race organiser Flanders Classics began the race with a loop by Boonen's school, his childhood home and his current home. The race finished to the west in Antwerp's suburb Schoten.
"That shows how professional he is because I could understand if he just wanted to train and pulled out of the final, but he goes in all. He sacrificed himself."
Kittel won five times: with Argos/Giant-Shimano in 2012, 2013 and 2014, and with Quick-Step in 2016 and 2017.
"I always said that I never had any role models in cycling, except for my father," explained Kittel. "And when I came to the team, and I have to be honest, I never realised what it was like to be with Tom Boonen, and I saw what is going on around him.
"There are not many riders in the peloton who draw so much attention and cheers.
"What always stood out for me was his working attitude. He is an inspiring athlete. He is very focused, and he knows himself very well. That also makes a difference between a very good rider and a great rider. He is a role model for everyone on our team."
Boonen will train around Kortrijk in the coming days, with a recon of Paris-Roubaix's large and dusty cobbles on Friday.
Thank you for reading 5 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
Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the Giro, Tour de France, and every major race since 2006. His love of cycling began with freestyle and BMX, before the 1998 Tour de France led him to a deep appreciation of the road racing season.
-
-
90 seconds, 12 stars: Is the Giro 2022 GC battle the most open grand tour we've seen in years?
After a reshuffling of the pack on Blockhaus, things are still tight in the battle for pink
By Adam Becket • Published
-
No time for a wheelie today: Tom Pidcock narrowly wins second mountain bike World Cup race
The 22-year-old didn't have time to pop a wheelie this time as he just pipped Vlad Dascalu to the line
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
Creating an icon - Behind the scenes at Paris-Roubaix Femmes
Only in its second year, the Paris-Roubaix Femmes is not just a gruelling day for the riders, but a logistical and organisational challenge for those behind the scenes - Amy Sedghi speaks to the people helping to create an icon
By Amy Sedghi • Published
-
From the cobbles to the race track: Tom Boonen is living his best life
Classic legend Tom Boonen on race car driving, Mathieu van der Poel and modern cycling
By Anne-Marije Rook • Published
-
Yves Lampaert said he used a judo move to avoid serious injury at Paris-Roubaix
Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl rider crashed after striking a fan last Sunday
By Adam Becket • Published
-
'It is something that I will definitely never forget, it was the hardest race I've ever done' — The first dry Paris-Roubaix Femmes
In the race's second edition, everyone was having a 'completely different' experience, whether they were a veteran or a neo-pro
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Bradley Wiggins: Ineos Grenadiers victory at Paris-Roubaix was 'typical Dave Brailsford'
Former Tour de France winner spent the day on a motorbike covering the race
By Adam Becket • Published
-
'You gotta love bike racing don't you, it's the best thing in the world' — Ben Turner after a dramatic first Paris-Roubaix
Ineos Grenadiers rider claims 11th after crashing, but sees teammate win race
By Adam Becket • Published
-
From finishing outside the time limit to winning Paris-Roubaix, Dylan van Baarle 'buzzing' after victory
Dutch rouleur claims first Paris-Roubaix for Ineos Grenadiers after 12 years of trying
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Team DSM choose not to use adjustable pressure system at Paris-Roubaix
Dutch squad will debut system at Tour de France instead
By Adam Becket • Published