Tom Boonen wins the 2016 RideLondon Classic
The Belgian Classics veteran won the sprint finish on The Mall ahead of Mark Renshaw and Michael Matthews
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter

Tom Boonen (Etixx-QuickStep) won the fourth edition of RideLondon ahead of Mark Renshaw (Dimension Data) and Michael Matthews (Orica-BikeExchange) in a bunch sprint.
Earlier on it had looked as though he and the other sprinters had been put out of contention, after Geraint Thomas (Sky) had built a considerable lead ahead of the peloton, which stood at almost three minutes with just 25km to go.
>>> Rider remains in serious condition after RideLondon-Surrey 100 crash
But the Welshman, who had attacked from a seven-man breakaway group with 50km still to ride, quickly tired while the peloton organised their chase, so that the catch was made as the race entered central London with a few kilometres to go.
In the sprint Boonen timed his acceleration perfectly, moving to the far right-hand side on the wide finishing straight along The Mall to finish comfortably ahead of Renshaw, stretched out on the other side.
His win was especially impressive considering the fact that Boonen had suffered a puncture, then was later was dropped on the hilly circuit in the middle of the race.
Despite these setbacks, his Etixx-Quick Step team helped him catch back up to the peloton, then chase down Thomas and the other remnants of earlier breaks to bring everything back for a sprint finish.
Earlier in the race Sky had made it their mission to animate the proceedings. With just over 90km to go they made their first move, with Thomas and Ian Stannard attacking with Patrick Bevin (Cannondale-Drapac).
The trio caught up with the four surviving members of the day’s break - Britain’s Matt Holmes (Madison Genesis), Jelle Wallays (Lotto-Soudal), Jonathan Lastra (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) and defending champion Jempy Drucker (BMC) - 65km from the finish, shortly before Thomas made his solo bid for freedom on Box Hill.
The Welshman committed to his move and built a lead that became stable at around one minute ahead of the them.
On Wimbledon Hill 14km from the finish Stannard himself attacked, making possible the prospect of the two Sky teammates riding together to the finish. But by this point the peloton was flying, and they caught the rest of the break, then Stannard, and finally Thomas in quick succession.
There was an attack from Sonny Colbrelli (Bardiani-CSF) in the closing stages, but the peloton ensured everything came down to a sprint finish.
The earlier break may have been unsuccessful, but there were consolations for Drucker and Holmes in the form of the mountains classification, which they were jointly awarded having claimed the same amount of points over the day’s peaks, and Lastra, who won the sprint competition.
The incidents in the race’s preceding sportive, where two serious crashes caused major delays and diversions as an air ambulance was called to the scene, also had an effect on this race, which was delayed for almost half an hour due to congestion in Dorking.
RideLondon-Surrey Classic 2016 (202.3km)
1. Tom Boonen (Bel) Etixx-QuickStep in 4-43-56
2. Mark Renshaw (Aus) Dimension Data
3. Michael Matthews (Aus) Orica-BikeExchange
4. Jens Debusschere (Bel) Lotto-Soudal
5. Jaroslaw Marycz (Pol) CCC Sprandi-Polkowice
6. Paolo Simion (Ita) Bardiani-CSF
7. Floris Gerts (Ned) BMC
8. Tobyn Horton (GBR) Madison-Genesis
9. Steele Von Hoff (Aus) ONE Pro Cycling
10. Mark McNally (GBR) Wanty-Groupe Gobert all at same time
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
Stephen Puddicombe is a freelance journalist for Cycling Weekly, who regularly contributes to our World Tour racing coverage with race reports, news stories, interviews and features. Outside of cycling, he also enjoys writing about film and TV - but you won't find much of that content embedded into his CW articles.
-
-
CW Live: Nairo Quintana to ride Colombian National Championships; State goes carbon; Tom Pidcock's 2023 road programme; British Cycling announce squad for upcoming UEC European Track Championships; Are Giant about to launch the 2023 Revolt X gravel bike?
All the need to know news in cycling this Monday
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Sven Nys says Tom Pidcock skipping cyclo-cross World title defence ‘makes sense’
‘An effort to win in Hoogerheide will cost so much’ says Belgian cyclocross legend on a course that favours Pidcock's rivals
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Tom Boonen: 'Remco Evenepoel should get away from Belgium as much as possible'
The former Quick-Step rider said he didn't enjoy the fame of being world champion
By Tom Davidson • Last updated
-
Lorena Wiebes takes a Ride London Classique hat trick and the overall
The Dutch rider sprinted to stage wins on all three stages winning by 19 seconds overall
By Owen Rogers • Published
-
Wiebes takes consecutive sprint victories to extend her Ride London Classique lead
The Dutch sprinter dominates while Anna Henderson secures the climber's jersey on home roads
By Owen Rogers • Last updated
-
Wiebes bags Ride London Classique stage victory as Anna Henderson caught in final kilometre
British time trial champion Anna Henderson was caught inside the final kilometre as DSM take the honours
By Owen Rogers • Last updated
-
Mark Cavendish wants to continue for 'at least' two more years
Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl sprinter turns 37 this weekend
By Adam Becket • 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
-
Fabio Jakobsen on aiming for the Tour de France, lawsuit against Groenewegen and supporting Cavendish
The Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl rider showed he is back to being one of the fastest sprinters around at the Vuelta a España
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Last updated
-
'I don’t want to end my time with the regret of not ever trying': Julian Alaphilippe wants to try and win Tour de France before retiring
The double world champion will focus on the Classics in 2022 but still has an eye on the French Grand Tour
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Published