Tom Boonen dropped out of the race after suffering a concussion on stage 6 (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Quickstep has announced that Tom Boonen will make a return to racing at the end of the month, at the Tour de Pologne. The Belgian was forced to abandon the Tour de France on stage 7, following a crash on stage 5 which left him with a concussion.
Boonen was back on his bike training over the weekend and received the all-clear from the team's medical staff.
"I'm happy I can get back to training and I'm relieved that the fall didn't have any major repercussions," he said. "The withdrawal from the Tour forced us to re-examine our schedule for the rest of the season. The team and I, we've decided I will make my comeback in the Tour de Pologne on Sunday, July 31st."
The race was where Boonen made his professional debut as a 'stagiaire' for US Postal back in 2000.
"I have a lot of good memories about that race," he recalled. "It was the first time ever I rode more than 200 kilometres. I didn't ride the last 2 stages because I was tired as never in my life. I was only 19-years-old. It will be nice to come back there."
Following the Tour de Pologne, Boonen will then move on to the Olympic test event, the London-Surrey Cycle Classic on August 14.
"I'll be wearing the National jersey when I ride the race," continues 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."
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Boonen's focus will then shift to the final Grand Tour event of 2011, the Vuelta a Espana.
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