WADA remembers marathon-man Boogerd

By Susan Westemeyer

Michael Boogerd may have taken his leave from the professional peloton with his retirement and farewell race in October, but the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) hasn't forgotten him. In fact, they paid him a visit on Christmas Eve for another doping test.

While the former Rabobank rider was out picking up his son from school, two WADA testers came by his house for an unannounced out-of-competition doping control. When the 35 year-old was home again, he submitted the sample. "It wasn't difficult, " he told telesport.nl with a laugh, "but in 2008 the doping hunters won't come in again."

Meanwhile, he is still staying athletically involved. He plans to run the Rotterdam marathon on April 13, as preparation for the RopaRun, a three day event from Paris to Rotterdam which raises money for charity. "It is for a good cause, and now that I have stopped racing I still need do something to keep my condition on a good level," Boogerd said. "I now try to run an hour each day. It does me good. Later this year, I want to run the New York marathon."

His training partner is Leontien Zijlaard-van Moorsel, who ran the New York marathon in 2007. "I asked him and Michael was enthusiastic," she said. "After my cycling career, I found running to be a new sport where I feel good. I think that running will also be good for Michael."