Boonen on track for August

Belgian top sprinter Tom Boonen feels he is coming up to his desired form after competing in the Tour of Austria, where he won the last stage. The Quick Step rider, who was left uninvited to the Tour de France following a positive test for cocaine consumption in the end of May, consoled himself with a victory in Vienna in front of Roberto Ferrari (LPR) and René Weissinger (Volksbank).

"This finale in the centre of Vienna was a bit like the finish on the Champs-Elysées," he mused to Belgian Sporza. "Now, I can put another city on the list of the capitals where I already won: Paris, London, Brussels and Madrid. My condition is already very good. I think I will achieve top form in the end of August."

Just in time for the departure of the Vuelta a España, where Boonen hopes to vindicate his absence from Le Tour, which he nevertheless watches closely. The Belgian did not miss out to see the victories of Mark Cavendish (Columbia) in France on TV: "Cavendish is someone against who you don't have the right to make any mistakes. But until now, not one of the sprints was led out perfectly," he said. "If I'm able to beat him? I've done it several times!"

After the Vuelta, Boonen will concentrate on the World Championships in Varese, of which he said, "the course suits me."