Belgian champion Tom Boonen has once again deserted his cold, wet, windy native Belgium for the sun and tax exemption of Monaco, according to Het Nieuwsblad. Boonen previously moved to the principality in 2005, but decided to return to Mol near Antwerp due to homesickness and missing his long-term girlfriend, Lore Van de Weyer, who’d stayed behind.
The couple endured a long distance relationship for a while and split briefly but reunited over the winter of 2007/08. When Boonen returned home to Belgium in 2008 they moved in together for the first time. Now she has given up her part time job and followed him south.
According to Boonen it is not solely the tax benefits of being a Monaco resident that appeals; the roads of southern France are apparently far more suitable for riding in the winter.
"In the winter months you have to do a lot of training,” Boonen told Het Nieuwsblad. “I was only at home between Christmas and New Year, but on January 2nd I was back training in decent weather. This is not a bad investment for a rider. To achieve the same results training with us as in Monaco, you have a lot to do in Belgium. You can’t take a car ride every day to the Ardennes."
As well as having Lore for company, Boonen has plenty of riders to train with in the warmer climates of southern France. Other Monaco residents include former Quick Step teammates Filippo Pozatto (Katusha) and Gert Steegmans (RadioShack) as well as Boonen’s good friend Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto).