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Gallery: Boonen joins illustrious company in the "100 Club"

Belgian follows the feats of Merckx, Kelly, Petacchi, McEwen, Hinault and others

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Three riders entered the Roubaix velodrome in 2008, but only one of them had a sprint in them.

Three riders entered the Roubaix velodrome in 2008, but only one of them had a sprint in them. (Image credit: Sirotti)
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Erik Zabel menaced his competition in the 90s and early 2000s.

Erik Zabel menaced his competition in the 90s and early 2000s. (Image credit: Sirotti)
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Sean Kelly after his 1992 San Remo triumph.

Sean Kelly after his 1992 San Remo triumph. (Image credit: Sirotti)
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... and the next guy in line - Mark Cavendish.

... and the next guy in line - Mark Cavendish. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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T-Mobile enjoyed success with Zabel for a decade.

T-Mobile enjoyed success with Zabel for a decade. (Image credit: Sirotti)
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Zabel's carries an impressive legacy in the sport.

Zabel's carries an impressive legacy in the sport. (Image credit: Sirotti)
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Super Mario Cipollini wins in 1998 Giro d'Italia.

Super Mario Cipollini wins in 1998 Giro d'Italia. (Image credit: Sirotti)
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Cipollini was winning way back in 1995.

Cipollini was winning way back in 1995. (Image credit: Sirotti)
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Bernard Hinault was as prolific as Eddy Merckx.

Bernard Hinault was as prolific as Eddy Merckx. (Image credit: Sirotti)
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Eddy Merckx in the 1976 Giro d'Italia.

Eddy Merckx in the 1976 Giro d'Italia. (Image credit: Sirotti)
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Merckx was nicknamed the 'cannibal' for his dominating record.

Merckx was nicknamed the 'cannibal' for his dominating record. (Image credit: Sirotti)
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Cipollini in 2004.

Cipollini in 2004. (Image credit: Sirotti)
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Robbie McEwen enjoyed a golden period just when Boonen had started to establish himself in the peloton.

Robbie McEwen enjoyed a golden period just when Boonen had started to establish himself in the peloton. (Image credit: Sirotti)
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McEwen was a regular at the Giro and Tour, here he takes a win in the 2006 Giro d'Italia

McEwen was a regular at the Giro and Tour, here he takes a win in the 2006 Giro d'Italia (Image credit: Sirotti)
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Tom Boonen wins Paris-Roubaix in the world champion's jersey.

Tom Boonen wins Paris-Roubaix in the world champion's jersey. (Image credit: Sirotti)
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Boonen winning a stage of Paris-Nice back in 2006.

Boonen winning a stage of Paris-Nice back in 2006. (Image credit: Sirotti)
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Tom Boonen in yellow in Paris-Nice.

Tom Boonen in yellow in Paris-Nice. (Image credit: Sirotti)
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The Tour has never been a perfect hunting ground for Boonen, but he did pick up the Maillot Vert once back in 2007.

The Tour has never been a perfect hunting ground for Boonen, but he did pick up the Maillot Vert once back in 2007. (Image credit: Sirotti)
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In the 2006 Tour de France, Boonen was impressive.

In the 2006 Tour de France, Boonen was impressive. (Image credit: Sirotti)
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Alessandro Petacchi took more than 100 wins between 2003-2007 alone.

Alessandro Petacchi took more than 100 wins between 2003-2007 alone. (Image credit: Sirotti)
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Boonen takes Gent-Wevelgem

Boonen takes Gent-Wevelgem (Image credit: Sirotti)
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'Ale Jet' takes a win in his stint for the ill-fated LPR team.

'Ale Jet' takes a win in his stint for the ill-fated LPR team. (Image credit: Sirotti)
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Vuelta success for Boonen.

Vuelta success for Boonen. (Image credit: Sirotti)
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And another one...

And another one... (Image credit: Sirotti)
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Alessandro Petacchi formed a brilliant team with Erik Zabel. Both riders achieved more than 100 wins in their careers.

Alessandro Petacchi formed a brilliant team with Erik Zabel. Both riders achieved more than 100 wins in their careers. (Image credit: Sirotti)
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Pocket rocket Robbie McEwen.

Pocket rocket Robbie McEwen. (Image credit: Sirotti)
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Belgian champion Johan Museeuw takes the first of three Tours of Flanders in 1993.

Belgian champion Johan Museeuw takes the first of three Tours of Flanders in 1993. (Image credit: Sirotti)
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Freddy Maertens capped a glorious comeback in 1981 by winning the Tour's green jersey

Freddy Maertens capped a glorious comeback in 1981 by winning the Tour's green jersey (Image credit: AFP)
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Belgium's Rik Van Steenbergen won in 1954

Belgium's Rik Van Steenbergen won in 1954 (Image credit: AFP)
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Jaan Kirsipuu (CKT Tmit - Champion System) was third on the stage.

Jaan Kirsipuu (CKT Tmit - Champion System) was third on the stage. (Image credit: John Pierce - PhotoSport Int'l / Tour of China)

It's been a long time coming, and perhaps a little overdue, but Tom Boonen finally broke through for his 100th victory in Paris-Nice on Monday to write himself into the history books alongside the esteemed names of Eddy Merckx, Sean Kelly and Alessandro Petacchi, among others.

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100th career win for Boonen at Paris-Nice

Having earned the moniker 'Tornado Tom' when he seemed invincible in the early and mid 2000s, it's a sign of the strength of the next generation of sprinters in Andre Greipel (Lotto Belisol), Mark Cavendish (Sky) and more recently Andrea Guardini (Farnese-Vini) that things had somewhat stalled for the big Belgian in recent years.

Fittingly however, he has made the milestone at a time when he seems back to his devastating best. Cyclingnews presents a photo montage of the Belgian's career victories to date, along with some of the elite company he joins in the '100 Club'.

To put Boonen's achievement in perspective, Alberto Contador, Lance Armstrong, Fausto Coppi, Djamolidine Abduzhaparov have all had less than 100 professional wins.

Boonen's key victories include a world road race title in 2005, two Tours of Flanders, three Paris-Roubaix, two wins at Gent-Wevelgem, as well as six stages of the Tour de France.