Boonen Doubles up on Cobbled Double

Boonen's 2012 Paris-Roubaix Extravaganza

Paris-Roubaix once again proved a happy hunting ground for tom Boonen. Repeating his heroics of 2005 in which he won De Ronde and Paris-Roubaix Boonen has asserted his dominance as not only a great among his peers, but a great among the greats. His feats at De Ronde last weekend saw him equal the record number of wins with 3. At Paris-Roubaix he went one better and won four. By doing so he equalled a record held since the 1970s by compatriot Rodger De Vlaeminck. At 31 Boonen should have several more cobbled classics in his legs. If he manages to win five Ronde’s and five Paris-Roubaix, it would be an amazing feat. but a feat that looks a distinct possibility.

Boonen’s attack on Sunday caught his rivals unawares who then decided that such an audacious attack would probably not be successful. Sky had four riders in the chase group and yet could not even pull back Boonen, let alone catch him. Boonen’s attack was reminiscent of his great Swiss rival Fabian Cancellara by attacking over 50kms away and soloing to victory. Boonen in the past had expressed a desire to branch into ITT’s after what could be said was a flat point in his career.  In 2009 Boonen suggested the 2010 world championships in Australia would be a goal of his. Since Boonen won no ITT’s he has become more focused on the cobbles and been duly rewarded for his focus and hard work. A move back from Monaco to Belgium had been seen by some a shift in Boonen’s recognition of taking cycling seriously as profession. The cocaine years were perhaps a wakeup call to Tommeke who blessed with natural talent appeared dissatisfied with the sport as wins became formalities without excitement or joy.

The second double on the cobbles is a first in cycling history. Several riders have done the double before and Cancellara came close last year with podium placings at De Ronde and Roubaix but Boonen has quite rightly shown that his cobbled form is almost unmatchable. As suggested in prior post, the race was Boonen’s to lose. He would have to race and win but how he did so would be of interest. What made the race so exciting was that Boonen broke away with teammate Niki Terpstra and stayed away. It was a move that didn’t need to be pulled off. Boonen could have stayed in the select breakaway and sprinted for the win. Instead he rode with panache to prove his four wins are of pure class. During the final kms Boonen made two gestures to the camera showing his relaxed state. Firstly pointing to the camera with his index finger implying he was number one he then held up four fingers in acknowledgement that the race was his that day. By winning he would also match the Roubaix record. Soloing away let Boonen not only celebrate before entering the velodrome but also reflect upon his win as equalling the record, writing another page of cycling history.

Had Cancellara been racing on Sunday there may have been a phenomenal finale to the race had he and Boonen gone together. In the past it has been Cancellara who has left Boonen eating his dust; perhaps Boonen could have reversed that trend. However there is little point in analysing counter factual history so instead, let’s salute Boonen for his gusto ride and celebrate his glorious return to form in the cobbled classics. Should Boonen show this form later in the year GC stages, sprinters classifications and perhaps another road world championship could be his by the end of 2012.