25 year old multi-time Dutch national champion, Lars Boom, has extended his contract with Holland's top ProTeam, Rabobank, through to the end of the 2014 season.
The former cyclocross World Champion continues to enjoy improvements with each passing season and edges ever closer to the select few that sit atop the heap as the world's best Classics riders. It's that potential for growth and his current status as an already powerful threat that seems to have made the deal an easy one for both Rabobank and Boom, who is currently training in California ahead of this month's Tour of California.
"In recent years, we have built up something beautiful," said Boom to Rabosport. "The cooperation is very good, and a three year contract is a vote of confidence. I feel great to face the future with Rabobank."
Former racer and now Rabobank technical director, Erik Breukink, sees the future of Rabobank in Boom.
"Lars has made another step this spring. He comes ever closer to the top of the field. The confidence that he compete for results in the future is great. Lars is one of the better Dutch riders with huge potential in some areas. Flanders and Roubaix are races that he will factor in in the future. Furthermore, we believe that he can continue to develop in the smaller stage races."
While the future is a big talking point, Boom's results in 2011 have been notable - exactly what you would expect from a burgeoning talent headed toward greatness. The tall Dutchman started the year with an impressive win in the prologue of the Tour of Qatar. Back in Europe, he finished 10th at the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, while his teammate and another Dutch talent, Sebastian Langeveld, celebrated the win over Juan Antonion Flecha. When the major classics arrived, Boom managed a 9th at Gent-Wevelgem, 37th at the Ronde van Vlaanderen, and 12th at Paris-Roubaix.
His results have shown promise, but have been of the sort of another rider just hitting his prime - Philippe Gilbert. Gilbert enjoyed a long, slow build, punctuated with some results, but with the almost certainty that the future would bring more, and so it has been for the incredible Walloon.
With Boom's pedigree through every phase of racing so far in his career, it seems a foregone conclusion that he'll be a major factor in the world's biggest races in the coming years. The hope is that this newest three year contract will be the one that sees Boom assume his spot amongst the world's best.