Six days after Omega Pharma Quick Step confirmed that Tom Boonen would have to miss the Tour of Qatar due to an elbow problem, the team has said that the rider will be able to ride the next race in the region, the Tour of Oman.
The Belgian Classic specialist underwent surgery on January 20th after a cut to his left elbow suffered in a mountainbike crash one week earlier became septic. He was treated in the Herentals Clinic, near Antwerp, and had several days’ rest before getting back on the bike.
He went training for the first time on Saturday and heads to Mallorca to join the rest of the team there for a training camp.
Having missed the Tour de San Luis and being forced to miss the Tour of Qatar, he’s eager to get his season underway now.
“Fortunately things are going well,” he stated. “I went out for a short ride on Saturday, and on Sunday and yesterday I was able to put together three hours of training. Today I did two hours on the home trainer because of the bad weather here in Belgium. I feel every day a little bit better, which is a good sign. That's why, together with the team, I decided to join some of my teammates busy with the training camp in Mallorca. I'm really happy to join the group — it's also important for my morale.”
His first race will now be the Tour of Oman, which begins on Monday February 11th.
“If everything will be ok as it is now, I will participate in the race,” he confirmed today. “The Tour of Oman will be an important step to build up my condition prior to the Classics.”
Boonen won both Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders last year, as well as taking a number of other big victories. He’s hoping that his delayed start to the season won’t affect his chances of repeating the double.