Tom Boonen Discussion Thread

[Afrank]

Re:

I'm extremely curious as to just what the f*** is happening in this photo?

 

[42x16ss]

Re:

Nobody can say that he hasn't been putting the work in. Looking very lean and mean already. I hope he can glide over the cobbles like it's 2009 one last time. Not a fan of some of his antics, but Boonen is one beautiful bike rider.

 

[Vesica]

Boonen not fully recovered..talking BS about others being predictable.

see here the interview: http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/boonen-everybody-is-predictable-these-days/

“When I turned pro, really the only acceptable style of racing was to wait, to wait, wait, wait. I tried to change that a little bit but now everybody’s waiting again,” Boonen said. “They’re all afraid of each other. They’re so afraid to do one thing too much and get dropped in the final. I think some people would prefer to lose the race and not to attack, than to attack and get dropped. And I don’t like it.

yeah, that's why Kristoff didn't wait in Flanders, Terpstra didn't wait in Roubaix, Paolini (and others) did't wait in Gent-Wevelgem.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

Maybe you're very new to cycling. A first attack 20k from the finish is still waiting

But everyone was waiting in Flanders this year. GVA finally managed to open up the race, but this was already very close to the finish (35k). When Boonen attacked in PR 2014 earlier on in the race, nobody had the guts to follow.

Ghent wevelgel showed us some true epic racing but that was thanks to the weather

 

[jmdirt]

TB looked OK, today and was in a group only a minute down on PS. Is he ready for P-R? I'd like to see him at least be part of the battle at the front.

 

[pedromiguelmartins]

Tom could ever under any circumstances do to this Cancellara (Cancellara is a much stronger rider in the last 6 to 7 years than Tom ever was) what Sagan did.

However, Sagan also seems to enjoy the good life even more than Tom. I hope he doesn't ease up.

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Re:

TB looked OK, today and was in a group only a minute down on PS. Is he ready for P-R? I'd like to see him at least be part of the battle at the front.

Although Paris Roubaix is perhaps better suited for Tom, I'm afraid todays performance is a very honest indication that he doesn't have the strength anymore. Trying a long range attack like with the assistance of other outsiders like in 2014 seems to be the only option he has, from an individual point of view. Another thing is the team tactics.

 

[jmdirt]

Re: Re:

TB looked OK, today and was in a group only a minute down on PS. Is he ready for P-R? I'd like to see him at least be part of the battle at the front.

Although Paris Roubaix is perhaps better suited for Tom, I'm afraid todays performance is a very honest indication that he doesn't have the strength anymore. Trying a long range attack like with the assistance of other outsiders like in 2014 seems to be the only option he has, from an individual point of view. Another thing is the team tactics.

I wonder though, if his main goal is P-R; once the race was up the road today if he just said 'OK settle into this group and get some solid time on the bike without burning too many fun tickets'. I guess we'll see soon enough!

 

[sir fly]

Just read his reflections after the race... Not sure how to interpret Roubaix thoughts.
"C'est la vie" approach sounds like a swan song.

 

[HelloDolly]

Boonen is better suited ti PR where the cobbles sections are harder an will slow the race down somewhat

 

[Taxus4a]

Re:

Great post. Saying that Boonen is not the greatest cobbled rider of all time doesn't diminish his results in any way. He is an extremely highly accomplished rider.

If Boonen wins Roubaix again, he will get the same level of the best cobble rider ever. But it is unlike.

 

[blackmamba]

Boonen already is the best cobble rider of all time its without doubt HOWEVER if hes the best classic rider of all time is what he and Cancellara are even NOT the cobble classics alone there noone can challenge Boonen!

 

[contador_attacks]

#Respect.

 

[ILovecycling]

Very sad, but certainly better performance tan I expected.
That position mistake in sprint sucks tho

 

[contador_attacks]

He was so f**king close... I still can't believe it!!! It's a honor to see him in action...

 

[sir fly]

The thing is, the cobbles are so unpredictable that you have to take every chance you get. Today was a genuine chance. Who knows what will the next year bring.

 

[mr. tibbs]

Re:

Very sad, but certainly better performance tan I expected.
That position mistake in sprint sucks tho

Yeah, he didn't account for the group coming back together. I initially though he had outfoxed Hayman in the final positioning, but then Vanmarcke gummed up the party. Part of the reason why Boonen's so great is because he normally doesn't make mistakes like that. Sad that this one got away.

What a legend, though.

 

[PremierAndrew]

Boonen is gonna regret that sprint for a long time. In a similar fashion to Stannard regretting attacking twice

 

[BalearicBeats]

Boonen said that he already lost a lot of power catching Hayman, and that maybe he should have started going to the front earlier, but he couldn't really blame himself

 

[Mr.White]

So sad for him, but what a legend! De Vlaeminck can say whatever he wants, but Tommeke is the cobble man for all seasons!

 

[May0maniac]

What a legend, we shouldn't talk about mistakes, he's the greatest cobbles rider of all time.
Thank you Tommeke, that was such an amazing race.

 

[markene2]

Was rooting for Tom all classic campaign, he came very close today. Hope he takes another year, and i think he will.

 

[Red Rick]

Think he did a bit too much work all day.

 

[Akuryo]

Re:

Think he did a bit too much work all day.

Not really. He wasn't the big favorite like previous years. Would he have won if Cancellara and Sagan were still in the front group? He barely managed to hold on to Hayman and Stannard. Riders who he would've crushed in the form of a few seasons ago. He seized the opportunity with Tony Martin with 100 to go and made the best of it. And that is what makes him a legend: Riding to the best of his abilities even if he clearly isn't the strongest in the peloton anymore!

 

[bassano]

So pitty Boonen did not won, I prayed him so much, year by year I like him more and more but after all that day he must be so tired