Tom Boonen Discussion Thread

[PremierAndrew]

Re:

Think he did a bit too much work all day.

This. He made it too obvious that he would work no matter what and not settle for 2nd or 3rd or w/e

 

[SevenTimeTdfChamp]

"Of course, I am upset for missing out on the win, but being second here after those tough months in the winter is a win in itself for me and I am proud of this."

What a champ he is

 

[Billie]

What a champ. _0_

 

[hfer07]

very pleased to see Boonen back performing at the top level - I quite frankly thought he was done after that spell of back luck, injuries and underperforming record of the last two years- Glad I was wrong

 

[trevim]

Worthy and outright leader of Quickstep regardless of what Stybar and Terpstra would like. Also a white hand slap in the face of Lefevere: a rider like Boonen retires when and if he wants, no one but a few guys like Merckx or Vlaeminck should even hint that Boonen should retire.
I'm happy to have seen Boonen ride all these years, one of my absolute favourites. At this point of his career, he reminds me a lot of Contador: taking great results out of pure talent even though they are both clearly on the sunset of their careers. I will always cheer for Boonen in San Remo, Omloop Het Niewsblad and Paris-Tours just to fill the gaps, but a 5th stone would set him apart definitely.
Anyway, I obviously didn't watch Merckx, Vlaeminck, Van Looy, Van Steenbergen, Kelly or Museew but to me Boonen is the best cobbled rider ever: the most complete and with the best record. Hopefully it's not over yet

 

[cellardoor]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/no-fairy-tale-finish-for-boonen-at-paris-roubaix/

He comes across very graceful in defeat, not bitter at all and only good words to say about the other protagonists. Sounds like there is a fair chance he'll come back next year too.

 

[SafeBet]

Let's just thank him for everything he gave to cycling in the past 15 years. Cobbled classics won't be the same without him (if he decides to call it quits) and Cancellara.

Fuoriclasse!

 

[CheckMyPecs]

Re:

Worthy and outright leader of Quickstep regardless of what Stybar and Terpstra would like.

100% correct.

 

[Mr.White]

Well this Paris-Roubaix has removed the doubts who should be the outright leader for the cobbles in Etixx. They should work for Boonen as long as he clips the pedals. The man is absolute class! Also nice to hear some words of praise from former PR winners and cycling greats like Hinault, Moser, Madiot and Duclos Lasalle

 

[robin440]

I did not really belive in Tom when he said that he has a good form but misses the punch up the hill but said that for roubaix he should be alright, I thought that is just some made up stuff and he just has not got the form but then.. sheesh

i hope next year with a proper winter he will even stronger

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Re:

I did not really belive in Tom when he said that he has a good form but misses the punch up the hill but said that for roubaix he should be alright, I thought that is just some made up stuff and he just has not got the form but then.. sheesh

i hope next year with a proper winter he will even stronger

He's turning 52 next year.

Anyway, I obviously didn't watch Merckx, Vlaeminck, Van Looy, Van Steenbergen, Kelly or Museew but to me Boonen is the best cobbled rider ever: the most complete and with the best record. Hopefully it's not over yet

He is the most "natural" cobbled rider i've seen. I think out of the entire peloton, he will lose the least energy on the cobbles.

 

[Cannibal72]

Re: Re:

I did not really belive in Tom when he said that he has a good form but misses the punch up the hill but said that for roubaix he should be alright, I thought that is just some made up stuff and he just has not got the form but then.. sheesh

i hope next year with a proper winter he will even stronger

He's turning 52 next year.

Anyway, I obviously didn't watch Merckx, Vlaeminck, Van Looy, Van Steenbergen, Kelly or Museew but to me Boonen is the best cobbled rider ever: the most complete and with the best record. Hopefully it's not over yet

He is the most "natural" cobbled rider i've seen. I think out of the entire peloton, he will lose the least energy on the cobbles.

Younger than Duclos-Lascelle, then. He'll win PR easily.

 

[Kwibus]

It's a bit crazy to say Boonen should be the outright leader for Etixx on the cobbles when he showed absolutely nothing in the Flanders cobbles. I think it was to be expected he would be up with the best in Roubaix.

Loved his performance and balls during Roubaix though.

 

[Miburo]

He confirmed yesterday on a show that he's gonna do another year.

He said it like this "maybe it's good that i'm second, so i can do another year"

 

[Mr.White]

Re:

It's a bit crazy to say Boonen should be the outright leader for Etixx on the cobbles when he showed absolutely nothing in the Flanders cobbles. I think it was to be expected he would be up with the best in Roubaix.

Loved his performance and balls during Roubaix though.

Boonen is a top class, a champion! Even at this age! He showed nothing you say, but did anybody of the Etixx boys showed something? He was recovering from a career threatening injury and manage to hit top form at the most important race for him. No, Terstra, Stybar and others are no match for him, they are just 2nd tiers compared with the great Boonen. And besides that, their chances are bigger when Boonen is in form and undisputed leader, as we all could see in Roubaix 2014

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Re: Re:

It's a bit crazy to say Boonen should be the outright leader for Etixx on the cobbles when he showed absolutely nothing in the Flanders cobbles. I think it was to be expected he would be up with the best in Roubaix.

Loved his performance and balls during Roubaix though.

Boonen is a top class, a champion! Even at this age! He showed nothing you say, but did anybody of the Etixx boys showed something? He was recovering from a career threatening injury and manage to hit top form at the most important race for him. No, Terstra, Stybar and others are no match for him, they are just 2nd tiers compared with the great Boonen. And besides that, their chances are bigger when Boonen is in form and undisputed leader, as we all could see in Roubaix 2014

Boonen is obviously an all time great, but ageing happens to everyone. Next year he's just another year past his prime, while others move a year closer to theirs or stay within it. As for everyone else having a better chance when Boonen is undisputed leader - you are getting causation confused. The secondary guys do indeed have an increased chance if Boonen is perceived as a dominant favourite for the race, but that perception is up to the other riders not really Etixx's team strategy. Etixx can't dictate that every other team marks Boonen and lets other guys up the road, Boonen's form and the weaker reputations of those other guys dictates that.

That said, on this year's evidence, Boonen is still clearly the strongest guy on the team at least for Roubaix.

 

[HelloDolly]

Re:

It's a bit crazy to say Boonen should be the outright leader for Etixx on the cobbles when he showed absolutely nothing in the Flanders cobbles. I think it was to be expected he would be up with the best in Roubaix.

Loved his performance and balls during Roubaix though.

Easily sorted ...Boonen not leader in Flanders but given a free role

And then Boonen leader in Paris Roubaix or indeed just given a free role

If I were EQS I would let Tom Boonen rides as many PRs as he wants and rest him well till then

 

[HelloDolly]

Re: Re:

It's a bit crazy to say Boonen should be the outright leader for Etixx on the cobbles when he showed absolutely nothing in the Flanders cobbles. I think it was to be expected he would be up with the best in Roubaix.

Loved his performance and balls during Roubaix though.

Boonen is a top class, a champion! Even at this age! He showed nothing you say, but did anybody of the Etixx boys showed something? He was recovering from a career threatening injury and manage to hit top form at the most important race for him. No, Terstra, Stybar and others are no match for him, they are just 2nd tiers compared with the great Boonen. And besides that, their chances are bigger when Boonen is in form and undisputed leader, as we all could see in Roubaix 2014

Boonen is obviously an all time great, but ageing happens to everyone. Next year he's just another year past his prime, while others move a year closer to theirs or stay within it. As for everyone else having a better chance when Boonen is undisputed leader - you are getting causation confused. The secondary guys do indeed have an increased chance if Boonen is perceived as a dominant favourite for the race, but that perception is up to the other riders not really Etixx's team strategy. Etixx can't dictate that every other team marks Boonen and lets other guys up the road, Boonen's form and the weaker reputations of those other guys dictates that.

That said, on this year's evidence, Boonen is still clearly the strongest guy on the team at least for Roubaix.

And Matt Hyaman will be 38 in a few weeks....strange to argue about age in this race when what just happened

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Re: Re:

And Matt Hyaman will be 38 in a few weeks....strange to argue about age in this race when what just happened

Lots of things can happen in an individual race. Hayman completely deserved his win but if the race was held again next weekend he wouldn't be one of even the five biggest favourites. Boonen is still quite capable of winning Roubaix, but he is no longer one of just two completely dominant favourites because he is past his best and from here on in will just be getting further past his best.

It's not like it takes psychic powers to work out that Boonen is on the downward slope part of his career. He's 35 and 2012 was the last time he won anything bigger than Kuurne Brussels Kuurne. That doesn't mean he can't win another big race.

 

[Kwibus]

Re: Re:

It's a bit crazy to say Boonen should be the outright leader for Etixx on the cobbles when he showed absolutely nothing in the Flanders cobbles. I think it was to be expected he would be up with the best in Roubaix.

Loved his performance and balls during Roubaix though.

Easily sorted ...Boonen not leader in Flanders but given a free role

And then Boonen leader in Paris Roubaix or indeed just given a free role

If I were EQS I would let Tom Boonen rides as many PRs as he wants and rest him well till then

It was always most likely that Etixx would have most chances in Roubaix. Their top trio all fancy that race the most and perform best there.
Boonen was the one that took the initiative which eventually paid off and I am most grateful for that, but if Sagan and Cancellara returned they would most likely bring Terpstra with them who up to that point had been sucking their wheels waiting for the reconnection and place his attack.
He got dropped for a moment when Fabian went and only got Sagan and Sinkeldam with him, but that was most of all because he wasn't in their wheels. He quickly reconnected later.

Either way I don't think Terpstra if in Boonens position would've made it that far. Not becuase he has a lacking engine, but because he's usually a bit more careful with spending his energy. Would he still hit the front on the cobbles when he was the only Etixx left? Good question. Boonen will most certainly go for it, no matter how far. He did the same in 2014 right?

Stybar is usually a great wheelsucker on the cobbles as well, but this time he was not well.

Their depth makes them strong, but in Flanders they lacked a rider that could follow the best. In Roubaix all 3 can follow the best when they are good. They won't drop them(cance,vanmarcke)and maybe they get gapped, but that goes for all 3 of them, but they are closer to the top which then gives their numbers a big advantage.

 

[HelloDolly]

Re: Re:

And Matt Hyaman will be 38 in a few weeks....strange to argue about age in this race when what just happened

Lots of things can happen in an individual race. Hayman completely deserved his win but if the race was held again next weekend he wouldn't be one of even the five biggest favourites. Boonen is still quite capable of winning Roubaix, but he is no longer one of just two completely dominant favourites because he is past his best and from here on in will just be getting further past his best.

It's not like it takes psychic powers to work out that Boonen is on the downward slope part of his career. He's 35 and 2012 was the last time he won anything bigger than Kuurne Brussels Kuurne. That doesn't mean he can't win another big race.

So he can win or he cant win cos he is old...make up your mind

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Re: Re:

And Matt Hyaman will be 38 in a few weeks....strange to argue about age in this race when what just happened

Lots of things can happen in an individual race. Hayman completely deserved his win but if the race was held again next weekend he wouldn't be one of even the five biggest favourites. Boonen is still quite capable of winning Roubaix, but he is no longer one of just two completely dominant favourites because he is past his best and from here on in will just be getting further past his best.

It's not like it takes psychic powers to work out that Boonen is on the downward slope part of his career. He's 35 and 2012 was the last time he won anything bigger than Kuurne Brussels Kuurne. That doesn't mean he can't win another big race.

So he can win or he cant win cos he is old...make up your mind

You might want to read my post more closely. I never at any point said that he can't win because he is too old. I said that he isn't a dominant favourite to win any more because he's too old and with each year his chances of winning diminishes. That this is considered controversial is weird.

 

[peloton]

Couldn't find a more recent thread, worth a read
http://cyclingtips.com/2016/06/tom-boonen-on-respect-life-in-the-public-eye-and-the-greatest-riders-hes-ever-seen/
edit. fix link

 

[Breh]

Great interview.

 

[SeriousSam]

CT: Which riders have most impressed you during your career?
TB: [Alberto] Contador. [Alejandro] Valverde. [Bradley] Wiggins. [Johan] Museeuw on a good day, but I was just a little bit too late. I never really witnessed his best days. [Paolo] Bettini, he showed me sometimes, some good races.

CT: Is Sagan the most naturally talented rider you have ever seen? If not, who is?
TB: No, he’s good, but not that good. I think Valverde or Contador. Valverde is a guy that nobody ever… I mean everybody knows him, but if you look at what Valverde has accomplished in his career, it’s unbelievable. He’s won one-day Classics over and over again, he has podium finishes in Grand Tours, and winning 25 races a year. He wins races in sprints and breakaways and on climbs and that’s true talent in my eyes.

Sagan is fast, he’s really good, and he can do the Classics and everything, but he’s still just a sprinter who can do a little bit more. And he’s not winning that much either. If he wins five or 10 races a year that’s a lot, but it’s not a lot. That’s a good rider, but it’s not that impressive

It's a bit odd that he mentions Contador along with incredibly well rounded riders like Valverde and Sir Bradley, given how much weight Boonen seems to assign to consistency and versatility. But then Contador was by far and away the best at Grand Tours, prior to Froome's emergence, so being the (former) king of the specialists in the most prestigious specialty obviously warrants respect.

Also, no mention of Cancellara?

I wonder what the results would be a in 'most talented rider of the last 15 years' poll in the peloton. I guess it would come down to Valverde, Contador, Boonen, Cancellara.