Boonen's €500,000 Bike

Tom Boonen will start the Tour of Belgium today with a new bike, labelled "Tom 01". American bicycle manufacturer, Specialized, has come good on its promise to build a special, one off, Tarmac mould for the 2005 World Champion, who began suffering from back pain when his Quick-Step team switched bikes this year. The custom made bike is 13mm longer in the top tube than their standard model, especially to fit Boonen.

The mould for the custom tarmac frame is rumoured to have cost around €500,000. "It is the idea that I will get five or six of these things," explained Boonen, who is happy with his new toy.

Boonen has been riding a custom built Aluminium steed since the Dwars door Vlaanderen, a race he won for the first time in his career this year.

For more on Boonen's bikes read A few millimetres goes a long way and Specialized answers the call