Twice as nice Tom?
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ByEurosport
Published 01/04/2006 at 21:36 GMT
Last year's Tour of Flanders winner Tom Boonen told Eurosport that the difficulty of the race makes it a highly unpredictable contest, one that even a world champion can lose.
CYCLING 2006 Pro Tour Tom Boonen Quick Step
Image credit: Imago
In an interview with French Eurosport commentator Patrick Chasse, Boonen said he was not a sure-bet to win this year's race. "I am just a man," said the world title holder. "The Tour of Flanders is the most difficult course to win. Just because I'm strong right now and my physical condition is good, does not mean I am going to win the Tour of Flanders.
"Other racers are also strong, and the Tour of Flanders is not exactly an easy race."
10% stronger on climbs
Boonen said that he is at the same level of physical shape that he was last year at this time and ten percent stronger on climbs. Sunday's effort will require all of his skill.
Asked if he felt that the peloton was watching him closely since he won the rainbow jersey, Boonen admitted that expectations have indeed increased. "When you become world champion, that changes a lot of things for the peloton. That's what it's like right now.
"It's not like last year. I did not have the same pressure at this moment in the season. I had other responsibilities."
Davitamon - "They haven't won anything!"
Boonen said that the most dangerous teams in the Tour of Flanders would be first-and-foremost Lampre, then T-Mobile, and Discovery Channel. "For me these are the three strongest teams. They have three or four riders capable of winning the Tour of Flanders, while the other teams only have one or two."
When asked why he did not mention two-time winner (1999 and 2003) Peter Van Petegem's team, Davitamon-Lotto, the Quickstep rider replied,"Because they haven't won anything! All they have is van Petegem and that's it."
Although Van Petegem is yet to win a race this season, Boonen said that it is always the case for the Belgian and that it was completely normal.
"He always has a chance at the Tour of Flanders, and I think it will be like that again this year. I'm sure of it."
As for a repeat of the surprise Milan-Sanremo victory of team-mate Filippo Pozatto, Boonen was very direct: "No, that is impossible. Milan-Sanremo and the Tour of Flanders are two courses 100% different."
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