Tommeke, The Greatest Cobblestone Rider of All Time?

[Arredondo]

Nothing is certain. We'll see. Contador dominated the Vuelta after "for sure not going to ride it".

Therefore it's Contador.

 

[barmaher]

I think it is a terrible shame that he is missing RVV and Roubaix, or at the very best riding there short of full fitness.

It has been said often enough on here before, but we have had so few Cancellara versus Boonen clashes when they have both been in tip-top form.

As always, we have some great racing in store this spring. But a fit Tom Boonen would have made the spring classics very exciting.

 

[Flamin]

Nothing is certain. We'll see. Contador dominated the Vuelta after "for sure not going to ride it".

Boonen's injury is a lot worse.

 

[Netserk]

Finally Boonen has had a great winter, and no misfortunes so far (knocks on wood). It'll be interesting to see what his level is now, as the last four years all had something go wrong for him.

I can't wait for Omloop

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

Re:

Finally Boonen has had a great winter, and no misfortunes so far (knocks on wood). It'll be interesting to see what his level is now, as the last four years all had something go wrong for him.

I can't wait for Omloop

I can't wait, I really hope he can win this one this year, will make him a true legend

 

[frisenfruitig]

He's already a legend mate. He's said himself he's already much better than he was last year at the same point in time so it's looking good. I don't think it's realistic to expect him to be able to follow Van Avermaet and Sagan in De Ronde but I think PR is his to lose.

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

Re:

He's already a legend mate. He's said himself he's already much better than he was last year at the same point in time so it's looking good. I don't think it's realistic to expect him to be able to follow Van Avermaet and Sagan in De Ronde but I think PR is his to lose.

You're right, I mean I hope he wins it, it's only one missing on his palmares

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

Re: Re:

He's already a legend mate. He's said himself he's already much better than he was last year at the same point in time so it's looking good. I don't think it's realistic to expect him to be able to follow Van Avermaet and Sagan in De Ronde but I think PR is his to lose.

You're right, I mean I hope he wins it, it's only one missing on his palmares

On the subject of De ronde, people forget he still finished 15th last year and only a minute down. And remeber he was still building form during that time of the year.

 

[Netserk]

I don't really think he stands much of a chance in Ronde, but it's not really possible to gauge his upper limit by the past four years either. He doesn't seem to be explosive enough to follow Peter, Greg and Sep on Paterberg. I hope he will go for a long one rather than wait for the inevitable.

 

[frisenfruitig]

He certainly has a chance at De Ronde but he has already admitted that the new course doesn't really suit him much. Granted, he did win there in 2012 so we'll see. I also don't really expect him to be explosive enough to follow Sagan or Van Avermaet there. He does still have the big engine though so who knows where he'll end up if he races intelligently.

When it comes to powering on the flat cobbles in PR, I really don't see anyone capable of dropping him there. The only guy that was able to do that is already retired. He'll still have to beat Sagan/Degenkolb/Vanmarcke though so it certainly won't be easy. I do think Boonen is going to be formidable this year tbh. He's always impressive if he can just prepare normally without injuries.

 

[May0maniac]

Re:

Finally Boonen has had a great winter, and no misfortunes so far (knocks on wood). It'll be interesting to see what his level is now, as the last four years all had something go wrong for him.

I can't wait for Omloop

Appartently he's already super skinny for his standarts, just look at his legs.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BPXzAb-D_1N/
He'd have to try a long range attack to win the RRV, I'd be more than happy with P-R and Het Nieuwsblad.

 

[frisenfruitig]

Re: Re:

[/quote]
Appartently he's already super skinny for his standarts, just look at his legs.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BPXzAb-D_1N/
He'd have to try a long range attack to win the RRV, I'd be more than happy with P-R and Het Nieuwsblad. [/quote]

Boonen said he isn't any skinnier than in his best years, you have to take the heat into account when you see pictures like that. The heat alone makes your veins stand out more noticeably.

Sagan and Van Avermaet will still have to be very strong to drop Boonen in De Ronde though, the course may not be very suited to him like PR is but you always have to watch out for a guy like him. He's got a strong team and if you are unable to drop him he might still beat you at the finish line.

 

[portugal11]

Re:

Finally Boonen has had a great winter, and no misfortunes so far (knocks on wood). It'll be interesting to see what his level is now, as the last four years all had something go wrong for him.

I can't wait for Omloop

I'm afraid that stybar and terpstra have a similar statute than boonen in this season. I think boonen could win another roubaix and terpstra and stybar could murder his chances of winning a fifth roubaix

 

[Brullnux]

Re: Re:

Finally Boonen has had a great winter, and no misfortunes so far (knocks on wood). It'll be interesting to see what his level is now, as the last four years all had something go wrong for him.

I can't wait for Omloop

I'm afraid that stybar and terpstra have a similar statute than boonen in this season. I think boonen could win another roubaix and terpstra and stybar could murder his chances of winning a fifth roubaix

Boonen is the team leader for Roubaix, unless he does absolutely awfully in the earlier spring races. Terpstra and Stybar will be given some freedom, but their chance will come at Ronde Van Vlandeeren imo. Boonen brings in too much attention and money to not put as team leader

 

[frisenfruitig]

Roubaix is a pretty honest race. If Boonen is anywhere near 2012 levels he will end up in the front of the race either way. Last time he was in good shape Terpstra couldn't even hold his wheel for more than 15k iirc.

 

[portugal11]

Re: Re:

He's already a legend mate. He's said himself he's already much better than he was last year at the same point in time so it's looking good. I don't think it's realistic to expect him to be able to follow Van Avermaet and Sagan in De Ronde but I think PR is his to lose.

You're right, I mean I hope he wins it, it's only one missing on his palmares

On the subject of De ronde, people forget he still finished 15th last year and only a minute down. And remeber he was still building form during that time of the year.

He isn't capable of winning another ronde. Last year he struglled a lot in oude kwaremont. Paris roubaix is definetly possible

 

[VDB44]

Re: Re:

Finally Boonen has had a great winter, and no misfortunes so far (knocks on wood). It'll be interesting to see what his level is now, as the last four years all had something go wrong for him.

I can't wait for Omloop

I'm afraid that stybar and terpstra have a similar statute than boonen in this season. I think boonen could win another roubaix and terpstra and stybar could murder his chances of winning a fifth roubaix

Boonen is the team leader for Roubaix, unless he does absolutely awfully in the earlier spring races. Terpstra and Stybar will be given some freedom, but their chance will come at Ronde Van Vlandeeren imo. Boonen brings in too much attention and money to not put as team leader

Boonen told at the press conference of Quickstep Floors that it would be cool if he could help Gilbert at De Ronde and Gilbert could help him in Roubaix...

 

[GambadiLegno]

IMO he's one of the 3 favourites for Roubaix, and for De Ronde as well. I can't see nobody much more favourite than him. I have my own reasons:

- He's not the wheel to follow, Sagan is.
- He's the most experienced rider in these races, far from any other top guy.
- This year he's specially motivated, he'll retire in Roubaix.
- His team is probably the best team for spring classics, not only to support him, but strategy with "dangerous" guys like Terpstra, Stybar, Trentin, Gilbert...should be an advantage for him. Although past experiences....
- He has a powerful engine, most important skill for these races.
- He has demonstrated last year he's still alive and that he can win.

 

[Flamin]

Crashes, illness etc. aside, he's imo the top favourite for Roubaix, unless Degenkolb 2015 returns. Or if it's a rainy edition (please god), then Vanmarcke is definitely on par.

Vlaanderen? No way.

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

I agree that he isn't a favorite but he still can win it. If you finish a minute down when you're still building form for PR and you didn't have a great winter to build up form you can still win the race.

 

[Flamin]

Re:

I agree that he isn't a favorite but he still can win it. If you finish a minute down when you're still building form for PR and you didn't have a great winter to build up form you can still win the race.

There's a daylight of difference between finishing a minute behind and following Sagan and GVA. And you don't improve that much in one week, which means he's form was good in Vlaanderen too. Same story in 2012 where he struggled on Paterberg against Pozzato and Ballan (hardly the level Sagan and GVA possess right now), only to annihilate everyone in Roubaix. It's just the new route that is too much for him (especially at this stage of his career).

 

[Valv.Piti]

Can you explain me how the new route is worse for Boonen? Im not particular knowledgeable about the specifics of the De Ronde-route, but Oude Kwaremont is certainly a better climb for Boonen than Muur (which is back in 2017, or?), even though Paterberg obviously is more explosive than the final climb in the past.

 

[Netserk]

The final is harder and more concentrated now, whereas before most of the final hills were without cobbles (and easier) and thus had the hardest section further from the finish.

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Re:

I don't really think he stands much of a chance in Ronde, but it's not really possible to gauge his upper limit by the past four years either. He doesn't seem to be explosive enough to follow Peter, Greg and Sep on Paterberg. I hope he will go for a long one rather than wait for the inevitable.

I agree. He will be dropped on OudeK-Paterberg, when Sagan attacks and he needs to be ahead before that happens.

I think he will be good in Paris-Roubaix. Has to find a way to beat Degenkolb, but his chances in Roubaix are a lot bigger than RVV. Certainly he has the experience and team to win in Roubaix.

 

[kingjr]

The way to beat Degenkolb is to make the race hard, he doesn't like having to work in the wind, that should take more out of him than Boonen.