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Boonen: Eager as ever for classics win
Tom Boonen has won the Tour of Flanders twice, but that doesn’t at all diminish his desire for a win again here at the first cobbled classic.
“I’m eager,” Boonen told VeloNews. “It’s a big challenge trying to be good in that same period every year. And I’ve achieved that goal almost every year. I think my sensation now is a little bit better than the same period last year. But being good and winning are still a big difference.”
Boonen’s Quick Step teammate and 2008 Flanders champion Stijn Devolder reported that he’s feeling well and looking forward to a good race Sunday.
“For me the Ronde has been a dream since I was a kid, and last year this dream became a reality,” Devolder said. “I’m going to do all that I can to put the team in the best position to win. The success of the team is what really matters. This week at the Driedaagse van de Panne I raced to complete my conditioning as I looked forward to Sunday. I’m relaxed and extremely motivated, and I expect to do well.”
Joining Boonen and Devolder in Quick Step colors on the start line in Brugge will be Carlos Barredo, Sylvain Chavanel, Kevin De Weert, Matteo Tosatto, Kevin Van Impe and Maarten Wynants.
Boonen said his legs are good.”I feel like I expected to feel,” he said. “The weather forecast for Sunday is good. With rain the race becomes harder but it is easier to make a selection, while with sun the competition remains wide open.”
The forecast for Sunday is sunny and clear with a high near 70.
“We here at Quick Step are starting with a very strong team,” Boonen said. “Devolder and I have already won the la Ronde in the past, Chavanel has been demonstrating excellent qualities, Van Impe is going strong and the entire team is competing at a high technical level. As far as race tactics, it’s going to be important to have a lot of teammates in front for the final.
"Among the adversaries, we should pay close attention to Filippo Pozzato who has recently shown himself to be in top form," he noted. "I’ve also seen (Cervélo’s Heinrich) Haussler do well. And then there are the usual rivals with the Rabobank group and the Silence-Lotto. The public should have fun. I want to do well. For me this race is special, both for the course and for the public.”
Quick Step for Tour of Flanders
Carlos BarredoTom Boonen
Sylvain Chavanel
Stijn Devolder
Kevin De Weert
Matteo Tosatto
Kevin Van Impe
Maarten Wynants
