Tom Boonen signs new Etixx-Quick Step contract; will retire after 2017 Paris-Roubaix
Tom Boonen signs a short-term contract with Etixx-Quick Step to retire after Paris-Roubaix next April
Tom Boonen has announced that he will retire from cycling after the 2017 Paris-Roubaix and has signed a new short-term contract with Etixx-Quick Step.
The Belgian, who has won Paris-Roubaix four times in his glittering career, continues his long association with Quick-Step, having ridden for the same team since 2003.
He finished second in the Hell of the North in 2016, losing out to Mathew Hayman (Orica-GreenEdge) in the famous Roubaix velodrome.
"I'm very happy and delighted what we came to an agreement. It's important for me to stay in this team, as I've basically spent my entire career here and enjoyed many beautiful moments, reaching some big goals", said Boonen.
"I know everybody since the inception of the team and I consider this squad as my second family. To be quite frank, I don't see myself with another [team's] jersey. It will be great to embark again with this strong team on a new adventure in the one-day cobbled races."
Boonen was crowned world champion in 2005, winning the second of his three Tours of Flanders in the rainbow jersey. Four Roubaix titles between 2005 and 2012, five wins at E3 Harelbeke, three Ghent-Wevelgems and the Tour de France points jersey are just some of Boonen's wins, which tally over 100 in total.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
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.
-
Is your bike the noisest in the bunch? 13 steps to a silent ride
A quiet bike is a joy to ride, so here's how to banish unwanted noises - what to check for, how to fix it and why you shouldn't ignore what your bike is telling you
By Tim Russon Published
-
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 '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