Omega Pharma-Quick Step 2012 Season in Review

In recent years Tom Boonen has had indifferent seasons on the road with limited successes. Several positive tests for Cocaine at the end of last decade raised questions of whether the Flemish star was still interested in competing. Podium places at Flanders and Roubaix in 2010 suggested the fire was still burning but 2011 yielded just two wins in the whole season. The collapse of the HTC-Highroad team and signing of several riders from the American team alongside and the new sponsor Omega Pharma joining the team 2012 was a chance to start a fresh not just for Boonen but for the entire team. 2011 was also a very lean year for the team who had just as many national championships’ wins as trade race wins. The star rider of the season was Boonen but the team had 15 different winners suggesting the changes over the off season had a positive effect for the Belgian team.