- Jul 15, 2021
- 1,104
- 2,247
- 7,680
That's some really weird advice on a forum....and shutup about it!
That's some really weird advice on a forum....and shutup about it!
Boonen won it in 2012. However, I agree he would not have a chance against Pogacar.The Ronde has become significantly harder in the past decade. Ain't no way Tom Boonen would even be competitive on the current parcours. I find it surprising not more climbers try it, and it seems tailor made for someone like Evenepoel. If he doesn't have too much trouble positioning and staying on his bike, that is. I'd certainly favour him over Wout van Aert or Mads Pedersen or whatever.
Boonen won it the year everyone was afraid of the new parcours and a gigantic peloton pubcrawled up to halfway the last Oude Kwaremont. That was also the last year he was even remotely competitive in the finale of RVV.Boonen won it in 2012. However, I agree he would not have a chance against Pogacar.
I also think the old route would have an earlier selection with the way riders race these days. Pogacar would definitely attack from far out.
While I agree with you, it's important to say Boonen was very hampered due to injuries in his late career and he was past his prime even in his best season (2012) compared to his level between 2005-2009. Boonen was also destroyed by Cancellara in both 2010 and 2011 RVV so I think it's not just the change of route but also the fact he got higher competition later in his career, specially with Cancellara.Boonen won it the year everyone was afraid of the new parcours and a gigantic peloton pubcrawled up to halfway the last Oude Kwaremont. That was also the last year he was even remotely competitive in the finale of RVV.
Yeah I don't rate the mid-late 2000s cobbled fields, and Boonnen-Cancellara was hardly a rivalry because usually one of them was completely off form. Also with the old finale usually they didn't do the Muur full gas from the bottom because the peloton would already be reduced.While I agree with you, it's important to say Boonen was very hampered due to injuries in his late career and he was past his prime even in his best season (2012) compared to his level between 2005-2009. Boonen was also destroyed by Cancellara in both 2010 and 2011 RVV so I think it's not just the change of route but also the fact he got higher competition later in his career, specially with Cancellara.
If he faced Cancellara 2010-2014 in his prime, he would probably get way less results.
That all tracks…I think top 5 but I hope he wins or gets second to Wout.
I think likeliest scenario is he is third strongest or so but can't quite stick with Pogacar plus maybe MVDP, gets frustrated with his rivals, throws a bit of a tantrum, kills off some time, then attacks away to get a decent result.
