Tom Boonen
Nationality: Belgian
Date of birth: October 15, 1980
Height: 192cm
Weight: 82kg
Team: Etixx-QuickStep
Now in the twilight of his glittering career, Tom Boonen is one of the most successful riders of his generation.
Three Tour of Flanders titles and four in Paris-Roubaix, one more in either race would place the Belgian as the greatest cobbled Classics rider in history, surpassing the likes of Roger de Vlaeminck, Johan Museeuw and his contemporary, Fabian Cancellara.
Not only has Tornado Tom shined on the harsh roads of northern France and Flanders, but he sits on a palmarès that boasts a World Championship road race crown in 2005 as well as six Tour de France stage wins and a green jersey in 2007.
While his future last year seemed uncertain, Boonen extended his stay at home team Etixx-QuickStep by a year to the end of 2016, and has now ridden with the squad in its various incarnations since 2003.
Crashes in Paris-Nice and the Abu Dhabi Tour left a sour mark on the 35-year-old's 2015 season, with Boonen certain to be looking to score one last big win in Flanders or Roubaix before he calls it a day.
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'I didn't think the mechanics put a chain on my bike' - Magnus Bäckstedt on his Paris-Roubaix victory, 20 years later
Two decades have passed since the Swede won in Roubaix. He remembers it like it was yesterday
By Tom Davidson Published
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Mathieu van der Poel wins record-equalling third Tour of Flanders with 45km attack
Dutchman pulls off audacious long-range coup to claim Monument victory
By Tom Davidson Published
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Will Visma-Lease a Bike and SD Worx-Protime dominate Gent-Wevelgem again?
The ante-penultimate Classic before the Tour of Flanders always offers up exciting action
By Adam Becket Published
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‘I remember eating two pizzas and still being hungry’ - Elisa Longo Borghini on the ride that changed her
2022 Paris-Roubaix Femmes winner reflects back on her victory in the 2013 Trofeo Alfreda Binda
By Tom Thewlis Published
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Classified launches a new gravel team with Ridley, and three new wheelsets
The innovative Belgian drivetrain company is now behind Classified x Ridley Factory Team, and has released the R36, R50 and G42 wheels
By Adam Becket Published
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Tom Boonen considers a return to racing: 'I'm considering looking for some competition on the bike again'
After a nearly six-year break from professional cycling, the competitive cycling itch is starting to prickle again for Classics legend Tom Boonen.
By Anne-Marije Rook Published
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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
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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
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Tom Boonen may face six months out of action following Abu Dhabi crash
Doctors have advised that Tom Boonen sits out for six months following a skull fracture, but the Belgian believes he will be back on one
By Stuart Clarke Published
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Tom Boonen's custom edition S-Works Venge
Exclusive images of the S-Works Venge bike Tom Boonen will ride during the 2015 season
By Richard Windsor Published
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Tom Boonen: No-one needs to tell me when to retire
Tom Boonen insists he will decide when to retire and will not be persuaded by the thoughts of anyone else
By Gregor Brown Published
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Fabian Cancellara: "I'll start Paris-Roubaix with my game face on"
Fabian Cancellara says he is racing his last Paris-Roubaix to win it – a race that Tom Boonen says you don't need a plan for, "you need balls"
By Gregor Brown Published
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Taylor Phinney: Riders don't have to take those massive risks
The American says that it takes the efforts of both race vehicles and riders to improve safety
By Gregor Brown Published
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Tom Boonen: 'I couldn't just quit after the skull fracture'
Classics legend Tom Boonen says he's looking for the perfect way to bow out of his prolific career
By Gregor Brown Published
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Tom Boonen: 'Riders forget they are responsible for the safety of others'
Tom Boonen says there needs to be a change of mentality in the peloton to reduce selfishness among some of the riders
By Stuart Clarke Published
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Peter Sagan should stop complaining about other teams, says Tom Boonen
The Classics legend says Sagan should not complain about other teams refusing to cooperate with him, saying "he is the one who always starts to sit on"
By Gregor Brown Published
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Boonen: Four leaders is too many for Belgium at World Championships
Tom Boonen, Greg Van Avermaet, Sep Vanmarcke and Philippe Gilbert are all fighting it out to lead Belgium at the UCI Road World Championships
By Stuart Clarke Published
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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
By Stuart Clarke Published
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Etixx-Quick-Step send all-star team to Vattenfall Cyclassics
Mark Cavendish, Tony Martin and Tom Boonen named in Etixx-Quick-Step squad for Sunday's Vattenfall Cyclassics
By Stuart Clarke Published
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Tom Boonen: 'People are already saying goodbye'
Tom Boonen says he's just focussing on training and being at his best for the Classics as his retirement nears
By Gregor Brown Published
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Tom Boonen aims for a record fifth Paris-Roubaix victory
Tom Boonen hopes to go one better than Roger De Vlaeminck and become the first rider to win five editions of Paris-Roubaix
By Gregor Brown Published
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Boonen may make Giro d'Italia debut, but Cavendish to skip Italian tour
Tom Boonen is likely to make his comeback from injury at the Tour of Turkey but could then make his first ever appearance at the Giro d'Italia
By Stuart Clarke Published
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Johan Museeuw backs Tom Boonen to rediscover Classics form
While Tom Boonen was outpaced by Ian Stannard this weekend, Johan Museeuw insists a win at Het Nieuwsblad is not Boonen's main goal
By Stuart Clarke Published
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Lotto-Soudal recruit Tom Boonen as advisor for 2018 season
Tom Boonen will join Lotto-Soudal as a "technological advisor" for the 2018 season after investing in its Captains of Cycling programme.
By Henry Robertshaw Published
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Tom Boonen out of Paris-Nice and Spring Classics with shoulder joint dislocation
Tom Boonen ruled out of Classics after shoulder injury sees him withdraw from Paris-Nice
By Gregor Brown Published
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Tom Boonen crashes out of Abu Dhabi Tour (video)
Etixx-QuickStep's Tom Boonen suffers suspected shoulder injury after being involved in a crash with MTN-Qhubeka's Theo Bos on stage two of Abu Dhabi Tour
By Gregor Brown Published
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Tom Boonen wants to stay at Etixx, but only if the contract is right
Etixx-Quick-Step's Tom Boonen wants to sign a one-year contract extention, but his team want him to stay for two more years
By Stuart Clarke Published
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Tom Boonen left with permanent hearing damage after Abu Dhabi crash
Etixx-Quick Step's Tom Boonen is well ahead of his recovery schedule after his Abu Dhabi crash, but the Belgian has suffered permanent hearing damage
By Stuart Clarke Published
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Tom Boonen: Rider Profile
Tom Boonen - rider profile, biog, cycling results, photos
By Nigel Wynn Published