Gert Steegmans in Moscow for the Katusha presentation (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Gert Steegmans "is stronger than Tom Boonen," said Dmitri Konyshev. The directeur sportif of the new Russian team Katusha is ready to pit his rider against the two-time winner of the Paris-Roubaix.
Konyshev said that if the Belgian works hard then he ought to be able to "win every race he wants to win," according to Sporza.be.
"But we still must work with Steegmans," Konyshev said. "Steegmans is not a child any more, but in his head he sometimes seems 17 or 18 years old."
The Belgian sprinter, who is in fact 28 years old, said, "I think he means I sometimes give up too easily." This season he does not want to "ride the whole season. I am aiming for a semi-Classic and want to do well in the Tour."
Steegmans turned professional with Lotto in 2003, and rode for Quick Step at the side of Boonen in 2007 and 2008. Last year, he won the closing stage of the Tour de France on the Champs-Élysées in Paris, as well as the first two stages of Paris-Nice. (SW)
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