Defining moments of 2005

ByEurosport

Published 28/12/2005 at 14:32 GMT

We assembled our brilliant panel of Eurosport cycling experts, asked them to sum up 2005 and look to 2006, and found our answers. Namely Tom Boonen is the man of the year, cycling will survive post-Lance, and the 2006 Tour de France will definitely be won

CYCLING Tom Boonen

Image credit: Imago

Question 1: What was the defining moment of 2005?

François Picard: A brave Tom Boonen trying to defend his Tour de France green jersey in the Vosges before finally calling it a day. The Belgian showed poise, class and maturity beyond his 24 years in winning Flanders, Roubaix, and the Worlds.

David Harmon: When Tom Boonen wrapped up the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix double we witnessed the birth of a superstar and the era of Museuw and Van Petergem slipped away into history.

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CYCLING Tom Boonen

Image credit: Imago

Vincent Bregevin: Lance Armstrong overtaking Ullrich in the Tour de France. He simply killed everyone's hopes of success on the first day of the event.

Danny Nelissen: Roberto Heras testing positive.

Question 2: Who was the cyclist of the year?

Nelissen: Tom Boonen

Picard: Read above.

CYCLING Tom Boonen

Image credit: Imago

Bregevin: Boonen for the hat-trick Flanders, Paris-Roubaix and World championships, then Di Luca for his Pro Tour victory, and Vinokourov for Liège and Tour de France campaign, despite having a team not working for him.

Harmon: Tom Boonen who capped his best year to date by bursting out of the chasing pack to take the World Road Race Championship in October.

Question 3: Will cycling suffer without Lance Armstrong?

Nelissen: No. Cycling did also not suffer anything in the post-Indurain periode. I think it will only gain because the Tour de France will be more exiting and the Michael Schumacher effect is gone.

Picard: There are so many top American riders now that the Stateside interest in cycling won't go away, but make no mistake. Cycling is losing a larger-than-life character. Luckily there are more in stock with Ullrich, Vinokourov, and Basso.