Boonen

[RegB123]

Past it or lack of form ? He's been no where near in any of the finishes in the TDF, pulled up about 20 yards from the line today couldn't get on any wheels, he started the season well as well.

 

[Animal]

Trying it clean?

 

[richwagmn]

Alien abduction.

 

[Jasper]

Mental fatigue I guess, and a slight lack of form. He can still pull off a good sprint in a smaller race, but this is the Tour. And according to himself he's a bit more cautious and afraid of all the pushing and fighting in the sprint preparation, and that's the one thing you can't have in a Tour sprint. He seemingly has to do it almost completely on his on here as well, and Boonen usually needs a good leadout train, just like Cavendish. I wonder though, where are De Jongh, Rosseler and Tossato when he needs them? The routine is there, so they should give him a hand when he says he's feeling good. But so far I haven't seen a decent Quickstep train once

 

[RegB123]

Shame i was looking forward to him going up against Cavendish this year but he's along way off.
Quickstep haven't covered themselves in glory either

 

[Pennypacker]

I haven't seen a decent Quickstep anything up till this point.....Devolder, Boonen, Chavanel.....were are they. Sad showing for this team so far and I fear it might not get any better. I don't trust Devolder, so I'm not suprised by him. Boonen....to much stuff before the tour ( I guess), but I really expected Chavanel to give it a go for a stage win at some point. He had really good form in the spring. Maybe he's past his peak?

 

[ilillillli]

I haven't seen a decent Quickstep anything up till this point.....Devolder, Boonen, Chavanel.....were are they.

For anyone that's a baseball fan, I've always said that Sylvan Chavanel is the "Cubs" of cycling... always ready to be awesome... but he's never going to win.

 

[Turd Ferguson]

Maybe the others sprinters teams are just not going to let him have wheels due to the fact that he got into the race due to a court descision. Maybe it's the peletons way of saying - stop being stupid Tom. Don't f-up again and we will let you back into the front of the race.

 

[Dr. Maserati]

Its been a quiet Tour so far for Quickstep.

I have a feeling when the Aussies wake up this thread could turn in to a 'Alan Davis should be here' thread...... and they would have a point!

 

[Coach Hawk]

Maybe the others sprinters teams are just not going to let him have wheels due to the fact that he got into the race due to a court descision. Maybe it's the peletons way of saying - stop being stupid Tom. Don't f-up again and we will let you back into the front of the race.

Hadn't thought of that. Sounds plausible, but probably not likely.

 

[mambo#5]

The Tour torpedoed Tom Boonen.

 

[RegB123]

Maybe he'll come good next week, and win in Paris if Quickstep can organise themselves.

 

[ridley]

I must admit that I would like to see Tommeke at least give it a try, but looks like the inspiration and motivation is no longer there! Did the late entry and the legal battle all resulted in a demotivated rider ?

 

[patswana]

I have a feeling when the Aussies wake up this thread could turn in to a 'Alan Davis should be here' thread...... and they would have a point!

You beat me to it.
Although I don't think Alby would have beated Cav, at least he would have been up there trying and probably getting the odd podium finish.

Maybe Boonen hasn't got the balls for a Tour sprint without the coke on board. Maybe it's a courage enhancing substance for him?

 

[El Imbatido]

Do you remember the worlds a few years back when they weren't going to let Valverde ride but took it through courts i think(?) and was eventually allowed to ride and then did shat all.

Maybe it's the same sort of thing. Just mentally and emotionally drained.

 

[180mmCrank]

He just needs a little time - he'll work it out.

...and yes I think it's a shame Alan Davis isn't racing.

 

[Buninyong Bunny]

I agree with the mentally fagtiued theory, but I also think that Quick Step as a team is what is letting him down, because they can't seem to deliver him to anywhere remotely near the front of the peleton. I have no doubt he hasn't lost his riding ability in 3 months - but it does seem that a combination of a ridculously fast Columbia train and a bad team is killing him a lot.

 

[mylanternrouge]

There is another theory.

Our reporters have discovered a new theory as to Boonen's middling performance.
http://mylanternrouge.blogspot.com

 

[Jacques Tati]

Maybe the others sprinters teams are just not going to let him have wheels due to the fact that he got into the race due to a court descision. Maybe it's the peletons way of saying - stop being stupid Tom. Don't f-up again and we will let you back into the front of the race.

What an absolute load of ********....TURD being very appropriate name for drivel like this.

 

[fatandfast]

Inflatably sumo suit

Turd you are reason we are loosin' in Iraq!This guy is SOFT soldier!Give him the wheel! Boonen is been at clubs rubbing clams and doing blow while others stayed home to do that in the off season.Boonen should never have been able to start.Total disappointment.It is hard to think of how much easier it could have been for him,@70k to recover from a climb.Boonen should put on his drag queen outfit and slip ot of the bus for parts unknown.Sorry if that offended any drag queens.Tom's next sprint win will be to the straw and mirror at the disco.They should have named him Cameltoe back in Dubai.

 

[slcbiker]

Frankly, I think he's probably past it as a top sprinter. Still got what it takes as a Classics rider, and probably could go for breakaway stage wins if he was in shape. But I suspect he wasn't in great shape, then had a few crashes in the first week, and hasn't really gained any fitness.
Devolder's another that is probably just going to be a very good Classics rider, or maybe short, not-too hilly stage races. I think the one good perfomance he had (Vuelta?) was more a fluke than a rule.

 

[saxe_coburg_gotha]

Carrying to much baggage. need a coke Tom?

 

[wheels55]

Davis got the shaft...

Its been a quiet Tour so far for Quickstep.

I have a feeling when the Aussies wake up this thread could turn in to a 'Alan Davis should be here' thread...... and they would have a point!

I agree completely.

 

[Spider1964]

With Boonen down on form for whatever reason and Friere not quite there at the moment, the manxmans main rivals aren't even at the race... Throw Pettachi, McEwan, Steegmans and Davis into the mix and surely it's a different scenario. Cavendish may still have his wins but you'd like to believe that he wouldn't have had such an easy time of it?

 

[Boeing]

whatever Dude gets more trim the the lot of us combined
win Paris-Roub...twice I guess you end up doing lines off underage euro trash girls bosom every night (allegedly) is his reward. he is my hero; heck I might go buy a Specialized