Tom Boonen (Quick Step) celebrates (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Just days after claiming his second Paris-Roubaix crown Quick Step's Tom Boonen is already looking towards the next goals for his 2008 season. The Belgian rider has his eyes on another green jersey at the Tour de France and also feels the World Championship course in Italy could see him take back the crown he claimed in 2005 from team-mate Paolo Bettini.
"Now, the next big target, is the green jersey," Boonen told AFP. "All will depend on the first week. If I can collect enough points then there will be a good chance. After that, the Worlds road race course in Varese [Italy] will suit me well.
"Certain riders said they have found it [the world's course] hard," he added. "You can never compare looking over a course with the race itself."
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Boonen took a commanding victory in the French Spring Classic on Sunday after winning the sprint from break-away rivals Fabian Cancellara (Team CSC) and Alessandro Ballan (Lampre). The 27 year-old is taking some time out after his victory to fully recover from the impact of the French cobbles.
"I need to relax on the days following the Paris-Roubaix," said Boonen, who has won six stages on the Tour de France. "You need to let the muscles relax after such a race.
"It's clear that I haven't recovered completely after the tension of Sunday," he added. "It will take me some more time, that is normal."
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