Concerns that defending champion Lars Boom would be unable to compete in this weekend’s Dutch national cyclo cross championships have proven to be unfounded, with the Rabobank rider receiving confirmation that he can start the race.
The 25 year old crashed heavily on the first lap of Saturday’s Grote Prijs Sven Nys in Baal, Belgium. He was leading the race at the time but lost control on a descent and hit the deck, bashing his lower back off a crowd barrier.
While he continued, he soon abandoned the race. “I know my body well enough to know that something is not right,” he said soon afterwards, according to De Telegraaf. “Hopefully this will not affect my preparations for the road season, but right now I’m afraid it might.”
Boom was assessed at the Meander hospital in Amersfoort. On Sunday it was revealed that the doctors there had
recommended several days of complete rest. However late yesterday, it was decided that his recovery was progressing rapidly enough for him to start next Sunday’s race.
Boom has won the past four titles and is aiming for what would be a record fifth gold. Sunday’s contest will be held in Sint Michielsgestel, the location where he took his second title in 2008.
It will be his final cross race of the year, Boom having previously decided not to aim for a second world title later this month. He took the rainbow jersey in 2008 but has focussed more on his road career since then.
His best results on tarmac thus far are his stage win in the 2009 Vuelta a España, his Tour of Belgium win the same year and his Paris-Nice stage victory last season. He was also world under 23 time trial champion in 2007 and consequently is regarded as one of the most promising young riders in cycling.