An interview with Tom Boonen

Tom Boonen (Quick.Step-Innergetic)

Tom Boonen (Quick.Step-Innergetic) (Image credit: Anthony Tan)

Keep the pressure down - and the beer flowing

Victory in today's Scheldeprijs Vlaanderen looked all too easy for Tom Boonen, but according to him, that's his problem: "I make it seem easy." Anthony Tan learns a little more about the world champion's winning formula to keep the pressure down.

Today may not have been his biggest win, but it was by far the most popular. In Belgium, he is a hero. In the province of Antwerp, he is idolised. And in the region of Kempen, Tom Boonen is god.

So when the seven out of an eight-man Quick.Step team forged the winning break no more than 20 kilometres in the 94th edition of Flanders' oldest race, the Scheldeprijs Vlaanderen, the ever so anxious crowd in Schoten had already decided who would win - and Boonen knew it.

"I think everybody saw me on the podium 100 kilometres before the finish line, so yeah, there was some pressure - I couldn't fail," he admitted to Cyclingnews, despite the fact that, before the start of this race, he already added another 12 victories to his fast-growing palmarès so far this season.

Click here for the full interview.

Thank you for reading 5 articles in the past 30 days*

Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read any 5 articles for free in each 30-day period, this automatically resets

After your trial you will be billed £4.99 $7.99 €5.99 per month, cancel anytime. Or sign up for one year for just £49 $79 €59

Join now for unlimited access

Try your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1