I don’t know how many of my readers actually follow the “Tour de France” but i’m sick of the press’ attitude towards Tom Boonen. He was forced to step out of the Tour this afternoon, suffering from breathing problems. Very well, he’s not the first one to quit the Tour this year. But you can’t open a newspaper, turn on the TV or switch on the radio without some silly reporter asking the question “Is this years Tour de France a disaster for Tom Boonen?”.
No he didn’t win a single stage, yes he was outclasses by Robby McEwen this year, yes he didn’t make it through the Alpes and yes he didn’t finish the Tour 2 years in a row. But on the other hand he’s defending world champion, won the Tour of Flanders 2005 and 2006, finished second in Paris-Roubaix 2006 (damn that train) and won in 2005, won the last 3 editions of the E3-price, won 3 stages in Paris-Nice 2006 and 4 stages in this years Tour of Qatar, … I could go on for a little while with this list but I think my point is made.
We Belgians should be proud to have a cyclist like Tom Boonen, no matter how he performs in the Tour.
I’d say, lets try get that Green Shirt next year Tom!
