Belgian road hero Tom Boonen is to organise a special charity cyclocross race at Zilvermeer, near his hometown of Mol, Belgium for a second year, according to Het Laatste Nieuws. The former World champion will once again present the “Tom Boonen and Friends cyclocross” to raise money for the charity Move to Improve. The race is more for fun than competition and is for road riders like Boonen, not cyclocross specialists.
Last year’s race was won by Boonen’s Quick Step teammate Maarten Wynants, but more importantly raised €40,380 for the charity.
"It was a huge success last year,” said Boonen. “Riders, spectators, guests ... I've only heard great reviews.
“That's why I spent time managing to convince a lot of fellow riders to drop by the Zilvermeer and exchange their racing bikes for cross bikes for once. Riders including André Greipel, Jurgen Van Den Broeck, Filippo Pozzato, Sebastian Langeveld and Carlos Barredo have already pledged to ride. I’m looking forward to it again, it's fantastic.”
Boonen has not enjoyed his 2010 season, having missed most of the summer with a knee injury sustained in a crash in May’s Tour of California; he only returned to racing at the end of September.
There will also be a new cyclocross race to be run prior to Boonen’s for ex-pros. Riders down to ride this event include Johan Museeuw, Eric Vanderaerden, Tom Steels, Michael Boogerd, Steven De Jongh, Eric De Vlaeminck, Fons De Wolf and Jo Planckaert.