Tom Boonen

By CyclingWeekly Staff

last updated 19 May 2021

Nationality: Belgian

Cycling : 11th Eneco Tour 2015 / Stage 3

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.

Bob Donaldson at Paris-Roubaix under-23 2024

From broken back to Paris-Roubaix podium: Bob Donaldson is making a statement

Second at Paris-Roubaix Espoirs, just a year after his career was almost cut short, the young Brit is ready to turn pro

'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 5 April 24
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 31 March 24

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 21 March 24
‘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 25 January 24
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 19 January 24

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 21 January 23
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 7 November 22
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 23 April 22

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 12 October 15
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 12 February 15
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 26 February 16

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 8 April 16
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 1 April 16
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 26 January 17

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 9 June 16
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 5 April 18
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 7 September 15

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 29 April 16
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 18 August 15
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 15 March 17

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 13 April 14
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 10 April 15
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 3 March 15

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 22 February 18
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 9 March 15
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 9 October 15

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 4 June 15
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 29 December 15
Tom Boonen: Rider Profile

Tom Boonen - rider profile, biog, cycling results, photos

By Nigel Wynn Published 18 November 08

1 2 3 4

Tom Boonen

From broken back to Paris-Roubaix podium: Bob Donaldson is making a statement

'I didn't think the mechanics put a chain on my bike' - Magnus Bäckstedt on his Paris-Roubaix victory, 20 years later

Mathieu van der Poel wins record-equalling third Tour of Flanders with 45km attack

Will Visma-Lease a Bike and SD Worx-Protime dominate Gent-Wevelgem again?

‘I remember eating two pizzas and still being hungry’ - Elisa Longo Borghini on the ride that changed her

Classified launches a new gravel team with Ridley, and three new wheelsets

Tom Boonen considers a return to racing: 'I'm considering looking for some competition on the bike again'

Tom Boonen: 'Remco Evenepoel should get away from Belgium as much as possible'

From the cobbles to the race track: Tom Boonen is living his best life

Tom Boonen may face six months out of action following Abu Dhabi crash

Tom Boonen's custom edition S-Works Venge

Tom Boonen: No-one needs to tell me when to retire

Fabian Cancellara: "I'll start Paris-Roubaix with my game face on"

Taylor Phinney: Riders don't have to take those massive risks

Tom Boonen: 'I couldn't just quit after the skull fracture'

Tom Boonen: 'Riders forget they are responsible for the safety of others'

Peter Sagan should stop complaining about other teams, says Tom Boonen

Boonen: Four leaders is too many for Belgium at World Championships

Tom Boonen should have made a deal with Mathew Hayman to win Paris-Roubaix, says former winner

Etixx-Quick-Step send all-star team to Vattenfall Cyclassics

Tom Boonen: 'People are already saying goodbye'

Tom Boonen aims for a record fifth Paris-Roubaix victory

Boonen may make Giro d'Italia debut, but Cavendish to skip Italian tour

Johan Museeuw backs Tom Boonen to rediscover Classics form

Lotto-Soudal recruit Tom Boonen as advisor for 2018 season

Tom Boonen out of Paris-Nice and Spring Classics with shoulder joint dislocation

Tom Boonen crashes out of Abu Dhabi Tour (video)

Tom Boonen wants to stay at Etixx, but only if the contract is right

Tom Boonen left with permanent hearing damage after Abu Dhabi crash

Tom Boonen: Rider Profile