Tom Boonen angry with Roubaix quitters

17 comments
By Justin Davis, AFP | Sunday, Apr 11, 2010 7.55pm

Belgium's Tom Boonen hit out at the quitters who helped end his dreams of a record-equalling fourth title at the gruelling Paris-Roubaix one-day classic won by Fabian Cancellara on Sunday.

Boonen started the 259km epic, whose 59km of cobblestones spread over 27 sectors have made Roubaix the toughest one-day race in the world, under huge pressure after a string of runner-up places this spring.

At last week's Tour of Flanders Boonen was spectacularly humbled by Cancellara, the Swiss Olympic time trial champion, who claimed his first win in the 'Ronde' with an audacious solo attack 15km from home.

And during what was billed as a Cancellara v Boonen duel on Sunday, the Swiss put his unrivalled solo power on show again surging away from a small group of favourites 50k from the finish and with 10 cobbled sectors still to race.

To his disadvantage, Boonen was sitting at the back of the group replenishing the energy he'd lost from a series of brief attacks that Cancellara later admitted had tested his will.

But for the second time in a week the Belgian was forced to admit defeat to the stronger man. For the riders in his group, Boonen had harsher words.

"I had just done some attacks of my own and was sitting at the back of the group trying to feed and keeping a check on the riders behind us," said Boonen, who won the race in 2005, 2008 and 2009. "And then Cancellara just went. But you can't argue with that. I would probably have done the same thing.

"I'm obviously disappointed. But if Cancellara attacks and I can't follow him that's fair enough. But I'm angry with the other guys. At no time did any of them try to race and some of them, including (Juan Antonio) Flecha, had already resigned themselves to racing for second.

"I'm more angry that I didn't get the opportunity to properly defend my chances."

A well-organised pursuit, in which each racer takes his turn relaying at the front while others rest in his wheel, would have tested Cancellara to the full - especially in difficult wind conditions.

Some, including Boonen's Quick Step chief Patrick Lefevere, believed the race was far from over.

"I don't think Tom ever thought the race was over then," said Lefevere. "Even with a great Fabian Cancellara, it should have been possible to organise a chase given the quality in that group."

Unfortunately for Boonen, most of them had already conceded defeat.

"I think when Cancellara went everyone understood pretty quickly that we wouldn't be catching him," said Cervelo rider Hushovd, who improved on his third place finish from last year to finish second ahead of Team Sky's Flecha.

Even Boonen's sports director, Wilfried Peeters, admitted: "When I saw Cancellara's initial acceleration I feared then it would be decisive.

"But we can't go looking for excuses. Paris-Roubaix is a man to man battle, and Cancellara was the better man on the day, although Tom wasn't helped by the fact that no one in his group wanted to really chase.

"But we can't be disappointed. Tom's had two runner-up places (Milan-SanRemo and Flanders) and a fifth here this season, and we've won this race a lot in the past."

© AFP 2010

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User Comments

There are 17 comments on this post

Showing 1 - 17 of 17 comments

  • Perhaps Mr. Boonen should grow up...maybe even train harder and ask himself why no one else in the peloton wants to lead this two time cocaine convicted royal boy to the top prize money. Mr. Cancellara was clearly a cut above the rest and deserved the win. Mr. Boonen should acknowledge that.

  • @gm1230126: "Mr. Boonen should acknowledge that."

    Perhaps by saying something like this?

    "And then Cancellara just went. But you can't argue with that. I would probably have done the same thing. I'm obviously disappointed. But if Cancellara attacks and I can't follow him that's fair enough."

  • It's always a contest for the next place when Cancellara pulls away. I haven't seen the race yet, but if Boonen was at the back after covering the earlier attacks, then the group does owe him something, but if he can't match Cancellara one on one then he doesn't really deserve to win, either.

  • Sounds like sour grapes from Mr Boonen. Cancellara managed to get a gap, on his own, why does Tom need someone else to help chase him down. Cycling is a team sport, I know, but when everyone has aspirations to win, it is to be expected, given Fabian's fantastic attack in the Tour of Flanders, that other riders are going to be reluctant to tow Tom Boonen to victory. I agree, Tom, get some more training in. Or, alternatively, get a better team around you. Fabian Cancellara's win today was absolutely magnificent, and no-one can have a problem with the way he achieved it. Surely.

  • I have a problem. He bikes lot faster than I do.

    :(...

  • Too many 'big' names watching Cancellara disappear down the road and waiting for the others to chase so as not to scupper their chances in a bunch sprint. full marks to Cancellara for great tactics and a monumental effort though. I do feel sorry for Boonen as he was grafting up to the point when Cancellara went. Hushovd, Hoste and Pozzato could have done a whole lot more, in my opinion.

  • Great job by Cancellara but I was yelling at the TV the whole time watching people sit up and race for second. It was 25 seconds with 5-6 of the top one day riders, Boonen, Hushovd, Flecha, Hoste, etc. and they couldn't get their crap together and ride for the win. Very frustrating to watch ANYONE give up and not play/race to win. I would rather hang it all out there and end up in 10th then race for second, no matter the prize money. A true, deep down competitor would have left it all on the field and not given up....

  • It looked like Boonen wanted the win. The rest of the group he was in were too scared to lose second place. Doesn't take away from a fantastic ride of Cancellara. Part of knowing when to attack is guessing how the group will react and they didn't work together well to pull him back.

    Boonen has just lost out so he's bound to be upset. Making references to his past misdemeanors is a bit unfair, childish and irrelevant. He's a great rider and fought hard over a tough 259km. to get a good place but not where he wanted.

  • I had to smile when Sean Kelly said "If your not on the Swiss train when it pulls out of the station, you've missed it".

  • Why was Flecha clapping his hands as he crossed the line. Was it self congratulatory, or for Thor Hush, or as Thor Hush did little work in their break, was it sarcasm aimed at the Norwegian sprinter???

  • I would think that Boonen is more annoyed at being in the wrong place for probably the ONLY time during the entire race. The other favourites were really negative though weren't they? I mean come on, Cancellara is awesome, but if 20 odd of the best classics riders in the world set about the guy, he's going to find it really difficult to compete. The rest just didn't want it, and Boonen wasn't content to ride for second, why should he, he's won before. Brilliant and awe inspiring audacity from Cancellara, but in the end it, a race? It wasn't. :(

  • I would think that Boonen is more annoyed at being in the wrong place for probably the ONLY time during the entire race. The other favourites were REALLY negative though, weren't they? I mean, come on; Cancellara is awesome, but if 20 or so of the best classics riders in the world set about the guy, he's going to find it really difficult to compete. The rest just didn't want it and Boonen wasn't content to ride for second and why should he? he's won there three times before! Brilliant and awe inspiring ride by Cancellara, but in the end, a race? It wasn't. :-(

  • cydonian74:

    I agree with everything you said except the last statement. This year's Paris-Roubaix was one of the best races I've seen in ages! Fabian deserves all the credit for this spectacular victory. Tom Bonehead knew the stakes would be high because of his 2nd place last week, and if he couldn't do anything about it, it is because Cancellara had perfect strategy, and Boonen didn't. Attacking solo off the front of the group with 50k to go?!! That, my friend, is a race.

  • Boonen is entitled to be pissed off. Cancellara was vvv strong, but the "chasers" did pussy-out and race for second.

  • Maybe Saxo Bank paid the chasers more than Quick Step ;-)

  • Coke head boonen should stay off the drugs and train harder, that way he might win for a change instead of whining ...... Cancellara deserved every second of that win for the true athlete he is.

  • Put your handbag away Boonen and grow some balls it's a race duh!! there is a winner and everyone else, YOU were everyone else on this occasion.

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