Boonen to skip Tour de France
Related coverage
- Tour de France TV schedule news
- 2013 Spring Classics news
- National Road Series news
- 2013 Tour de France news
Belgian cycling star Tom Boonen announced on Tuesday that he will forego this year’s Tour de France so as to be fresh for a tilt at the Olympic road race title.
The 31-year-old former world champion has just returned to competition after taking a break following a superb spring classics campaign that saw him win a record-equalling third Tour of Flanders and a record-equalling fourth Paris-Roubaix.
However, Boonen told Flemish language newspaper Het Nieuwsblad’s website that he felt competing in this year’s Tour de France, in which he won the green jersey in 2007 and has won six stages, would impinge on his chances of Olympic gold in London.
“The decision has been taken,” said Boonen, who is presently competing in the Tour of California.
“I have a great chance in the Olympic race, but I must remain fresh for it. I will without doubt race in the Tour of Poland instead, so as to prepare for the Olympics.”
The Tour of Poland runs from July 10 to 16, while the Tour de France finishes on July 22. The Olympic road race is on July 28.
© AFP 2013
The Roar have special SKODA prize packs to award to Roar of the Crowd writers who send us their thoughts on cycling. Each month we're giving away a prize pack, and at the end you could win a SKODA road bike. Simply submit an article to The Roar and you could win! More details here.
The Crowd Says (4) | Page 1 of Comments
Have Your Say
- Explore:
- Cycling, Tom Boonen, Tour de France
May 18th 2012 @ 7:56am
Jacob said | May 18th 2012 @ 7:56am | Report comment
Earlier on in the season I wondered what riders might bow out of the grand tours to focus on the Olympics. Let’s see how this works out for Boonen.
May 18th 2012 @ 4:46pm
DanMan said | May 18th 2012 @ 4:46pm | Report comment
Pretty big gamble if you ask me, considering Cav and co. will do anything to win on home soil.
May 18th 2012 @ 6:14pm
Major Tom said | May 18th 2012 @ 6:14pm | Report comment
Well this will make things interesting. I’m not 100% sure how the course profile is for the games, but Boonen would have to be a favourite given his form this year and taking time to rest up before hand. England and Australia will have to work hard to keep Cavendish and Goss in contention and stop Boonen from powering away a la Paris-Roubaix style.
May 18th 2012 @ 10:41pm
Darryl Kotyk said | May 18th 2012 @ 10:41pm | Report comment
Maybe because most riders are still focused on the grand tours, Boonen’s strategy is to focus on the Olympics and hoping to be one of the only top riders doing so. Sort of kidding there, but it’s interesting to see how the riders think during a year like this with the Olympics thrown into the mix.