Quick Step’s Tom Boonen has recovered from injuries sustained in a crash in the Tour de France sooner than expected, and will line up at the start of the Tour de Pologne (Tour of Poland). The race begins on Sunday, July 31st in Pruszków, with a short, 101.5km stage to the Polish capital Warsaw.
Boonen’s original plan had been to return at the Eneco Tour of Benelux, which starts on August 8th, but since he has recovered quicker than expected he will start the earlier race.
“I’m happy I can get back to training and I’m relieved that the fall didn’t have any major repercussions,” said Boonen. “The withdrawal from the Tour forced us to re-examine our schedule for the rest of the season, and the team and I have decided I will make my comeback in the Tour de Pologne on Sunday, July 31st.”
Boonen crashed on stage five of the Tour de France, along with many other riders; he hit his head on the tarmac, breaking his helmet, and abandoned the race two days later, complaining that his head was spinning. After returning home he suffered from headaches, indicating that he’d suffered concussion, but managed to resume training at the end of last week.
The former Belgian and World champion has not raced the Polish national tour since before he was a professional. Then the race was ranked as 2.3 on the International Cycling Union (UCI) calendar, whereas now it is part of the WorldTour.
“This race was my first race as stagiere in a professional team in 2000,” he explained. “I have a lot of good memories about that race. It was the first time ever I rode more than 200 kilometres. I didn’t ride the last 2 stages because I was more tired than I’d ever been in my life. I was only 19 years old. It will be nice to come back there.”
Since the Tour of Poland ends just two days before the Eneco Tour begins, Boonen will no loner be riding the Benelux race. Instead, he will be part of a Belgian national team that will compete in the London-Surrey Cycle Classic on August 14th, which will be a test event for next year’s Olympic Games road race.
“I’ll be wearing the National jersey when I ride the race,” said Boonen. “The Federation is granting me a great opportunity to race on an Olympic circuit. I’m very pleased, I’m sure it will be an important test event.”