Tom Boonen back in shape for Tour of Flanders
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter

Despite a crash and banged knee, Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) is improving towards the Tour of Flanders on Sunday. He worked for Mark Cavendish yesterday in Three Days of De Panne and accumulated needed race kilometres.
"He still has a little pain in his knee, but raced today and went really very deep," General Manager Patrick Lefevere told a group of journalists including Cycling Weekly. "If he can add an extra 260 kilometres from De Panne, then we can start to think how to go about beating The Beast, Sagan on Sunday."
Lefevere spoke after the first led of De Panne yesterday in Zottegem. Boonen arrived to the bus dirty and tired, but, importantly for Flanders, smiling.
The two spoke on the bus before Lefevere met with the press. The conversation would have centred on Boonen's work for Cavendish and "the beast," yesterday's stage and Ghent-Wevelgem winner, Peter Sagan (Cannondale).
Despite Boonen's three wins, Sagan is the favourite for Sunday's race through Flanders. Bookmakers give him 3:1 odds. Boonen is at 14:1.
Falling behind
Boonen fell behind over the winter with two visits to the hospital: once for an intestinal problem and once for an elbow infection. It forced him to miss a team camp and his usual trip to the Tour of Qatar. He did not get rolling until the Tour of Oman on February 11.
He made two steps forward, but took another one back on Sunday in E3 Harelbeke. With 65 kilometres to race, he tried to avoid a curb and fell on his right side and banged his knee.
The setbacks mean that Belgium's home team might rely on Sylvain Chavanel to lead.
"In the past it was a little easier. It was just Tom," Lefevere explained.
"With the health difficulties that Tom had since December, it's not so sure [what he can do in Flanders]. He's still there. If you see when he was pulling in the final, the whole bunch was [strung-out for] about one kilometre. That's Tom Boonen, and that means that he had good legs, but on Sunday we may play different cards with Niki Terpstra, Chavanel and Boonen."
Off in the distance the announcer calls Sagan on the podium to accept flowers and kisses from the podium girls. Lefevere shakes his head. Even if he has a full deck of Omega Pharma cards to play, he still has to deal with Cannondale's hand, the beast.
"We can't be frustrated by Sagan. You see if you're a real leader like Sagan, the team is strong. The team is strong because of him," Lefevere added. "We have a very strong team, too, but it's difficult to organise the race if Sagan attacks."
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
Founded in 1891, Cycling Weekly and its team of expert journalists brings cyclists in-depth reviews, extensive coverage of both professional and domestic racing, as well as fitness advice and 'brew a cuppa and put your feet up' features. Cycling Weekly serves its audience across a range of platforms, from good old-fashioned print to online journalism, and video.
-
-
Marius Mayrhofer pulls off surprise win at Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race
DSM rider breaks down with emotion after he crosses the finish line
By Stephen Puddicombe • Published
-
Ethan Vernon sprints to victory in final leg of the Challenge Mallorca
Brit sees off challenge from Biniam Girmay
By Stephen Puddicombe • Published
-
Biniam Girmay eyes Tour of Flanders and Tour de France success in 2023
After becoming first African rider to win Gent-Wevelgem, Girmay plans to take aim at the Tour of Flanders and other monuments next year
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Tour of Flanders Espoirs cancelled indefinitely
The race's date, location and lack of young riders are all factors in the organiser's decision
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
No fans at Tour of Flanders and other Classics in 2021, according to organisers
There will be no fans at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Ghent-Wevelgem, Dwars Door Vlaanderen, Scheldeprijs or Brabantse Pijl in 2021
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Published
-
How watching 25 years of Tour of Flanders footage is helping scientists study climate change
It might sound like an excuse to watch some bike racing, but scientists are using footage of the Tour of Flanders to help them study climate change.
By Henry Robertshaw • Published
-
Peter Sagan: 'If the other riders don't wake up, it's going to be like this'
"It's not just me that they need to beat" Peter Sagan said of his rivals after Quick-Step Floors dominated the Tour of Flanders
By Gregor Brown • Published
-
Five things we learned from the 2018 Tour of Flanders
We take a look at the main talking points from the 2018 edition of the Tour of Flanders
By Stephen Puddicombe • Published
-
Niki Terpstra leaves rivals reeling with amazing Tour of Flanders solo win
Dutchman Niki Terpstra adds a Tour of Flanders victory to his 2018 E3 Harelbeke win and 2014 Paris-Roubaix title after a trademark long-range solo attack
By Nigel Wynn • Published
-
Luke Rowe disqualified from Tour of Flanders: 'I'm just gutted'
Team Sky Welshman Luke Rowe reportedly rode onto bike path in among spectators during the Tour of Flanders
By Nigel Wynn • Published