Concerns that Tom Boonen would be forced to miss next week’s Eneco Tour have proved to be accurate, with the his team confirming today that he will be out of competition for the foreseeable future.
Last month the Belgian suffered a reoccurrence of a saddle sore he first experienced in 2011. It prevented him from being able to start the Tour of Denmark, thus cutting short his plans to continue building form. He has had a difficult season due to various injuries but hoped that things were turning around after he won a stage of the Tour de Wallonie.
Unfortunately for him and his fans, that is not the case.
“I’m really disappointed,” he said today. “I really like the Eneco Tour and it’s too bad I can’t be at the starting line, but right now it’s essential that I take the proper time to heal from this cyst. It is preventing me from training consistently and I don’t want to underestimate it.
Boonen’s issue is a cyst of the perineum. It is being treated with anti-inflammatories, but his Omega Pharma Quick Step team confirmed today that there is no indication as to when he might be able to return to competition.
He’s hoping to be back in action in a month’s time.
“I have to say 2013 has definitely not been my year,” Boonen admitted. “Now the goal is to get better and get back to the races in the month of September, even though as things are now we can’t really set any definite date for a return.”
This season has been a major disappointment, particularly in light of a hugely successful 2012. He won a clutch of big races then, including taking the Tour of Flanders/Paris-Roubaix double.