Tom Boonen is unlikely to make the World Championships in Geelong, Australia, from September 29 to October 3. Yesterday, Boonen had his first day on the bike since his knee surgery July 15. He is expected to return to competition in the second half of September, but Boonen is unlikely to have enough training kilometers in his legs for the 263km event.
The Belgian rode a half hour on the rollers, as was set by the team's doctor, Yvan van Mol. "It is certainly not going bad with Tom," Van Mol told Het Nieuwsblad. "Soon he will be able to return to the road, but now it is important to not overdo it." Forcing it could mean a sudden setback. "That is not what we want."
Van Mol expects Boonen to return to competition in mid-September. "Or maybe more the second half of the month," he adds carefully. "It depends on the progress he makes."
This rules Boonen out for the Vuelta, which many favorites for the Worlds course will use as a final preparation. The course, which some had said is for the sprinters, also looks to be more challenging than just to wait for a final kick in the finishing straight.
Van Mol stays realistic and deems the chances of Boonen to appear in Geelong as rather small. "I don't think he will be there. Especially because the World Championships are in Australia, and so there is a long travel involved, including the jetlag. I don't say it is completely impossible, but really... We have to be smart about it."
Already not 100 percent in last year's Worlds
Boonen had already problems at the Worlds in Mendrisio last year. He came out of the Tour sick and later crashed heavily in the Vuelta a España, leaving him with a back injury. He was out for some time then, but not a whole month off the bike. In Mendrisio, he went into an early break to work for teammate Philippe Gilbert.
The cautious Van Mol has a longer term vision. "I say that a complete recovery has to be the main focus. From my point of view the level of competition, results and podiums are not important. I am just happy if he races again this season." This would set the path to a successful 2011. "That way he could start the winter well, with good condition for next year. This seems to be the ideal scenario."
The Belgian coach, Carlo Bomans, agrees with Van Mol's assessment. "I am afraid that indeed the World Championships is an impossible task for Boonen. Somebody eyeing the Worlds podium also has to have the Vuelta in the legs." With less than two months to go, time is running out. "In such a short timeframe I don't see how Tom can get the condition to play a major role in the Belgian selection. Much less than last year."
But Bomans hasn't closed the door for Boonen yet. "I want to talk to him personally before making a definite decision."
Boonen has won the World Championships once, in 2005 in Madrid, Spain. The 2010 season started out well for Boonen, with stage wins in the Tour of Qatar, the Tour of Oman and Tirreno-Adriatico. But in the classics he found himself dominated by Fabian Cancellara. In the Tour of California he crashed hard, with his knee problems not immediately apparent. Recurring problems eventually forced him out of the Belgian Championships and the Tour de France, which passed through Boonen's home country of Belgium this year.