Many are calling tomorrow’s Ronde Van Vlaanderen as being a likely showdown between Tom Boonen and RadioShack Nissan’s Fabian Cancellara, but the Belgian is adamant that there will be other riders who will be in the running for victory. While the duo have shown a good run of form in recent weeks, with Boonen in particular clocking up a number of victories, he insists that they both must be vigilant.
"I know it’s an item talking about me and Fabian," he said at the pre-race press conference. "I never rode a race to beat somebody else by themselves, but to win. For Fabian it will be the same. Between us there is a mutual respect. We are always fighting in such a way.
“[But] we don't have to forget there are a lot of other riders that can be in the final. Pozzato or Sagan. It's not only a race between me and Fabian but an important race for everybody."
Boonen had a couple of seasons where he was below his usual level, but has – unexpectedly for some – managed to turn things around. He started things off with a stage win in the Tour de San Luis, continued with two stage wins plus the overall in the Tour of Qatar, then headed back to Europe where he won a stage of Paris-Nice, the E3 Harelbeke and Gent Wevelgem.
It’s his best season start in many years and that, plus the strength of his Omega Pharma Quick Step team, means that both he and his fans know he should be one of the big guns tomorrow.
However he said that he can’t dwell on what he has already done, but must look forward and remain hungry.
"After my victories at E3 Prijs and Gent-Wevelgem the first part of the season, it's already good," Boonen said. "But on Saturday we will start from zero. Ronde van Vlaanderen is a completely different course. Even the tradition of the race, it's important. We have to try and do our best, always."
He will be backed tomorrow by Dries Devenyns, Nikolas Maes, Gert Steegmans, Niki Terpstra, Matteo Trentin, Stijn Vandenbergh and the in-form French champion Sylvain Chavanel, who won the Driedaagse De Panne-Koksijde on Thursday,
The latter is another contender for the race victory, but insists that he will ride to help Boonen rather than thinking of his own possibilities.
"I still have a very good role," he explained. "Today we did another trip around the last lap of the course, me and Terpstra. We did one lap by car and another lap by bike. We really did all that we can do to be 100 percent on Sunday. We now only need to recover and stay relaxed, and wait for the race on Sunday. I am sure it will be a great show for everybody."
The race will take place on a revised course and Boonen said that this will make the outcome a very difficult one to predict. He isn’t sure if the new route will be better or not, but is certain that there will be plenty of action.
“For sure it will be a fight — man against man or small group finish. We have a great team, but with a race like that, a great team does not guarantee success. We have to be ready to fight each meter and try and get victory at the finish line."