Former Paris-Roubaix winner, Johan Vansummeren appreciates Tom Boonen’s terrific form
Johan Vansummeren of Team Garmin-Barracuda was riding the Paris-Roubaix as one of the biggest goals of his 2012 season.
The cyclist was aiming a much required victory at the tenth World Tour race of the season.
He rode brilliantly but had to bow before the mighty Boonen during the 257.5 kilometre race.
Johan could not match the likes of his Belgian competitor and had to adjust for the ninth overall spot.
Tom finished the race in an impressive time of 5 hours, 55 minutes and 22 seconds to claim the top podium position.
Sebastien Turgot of Team Europcar, Alessandro Ballan of Team BMC, Juan Antonio Flecha of Team Sky and Niki Terpstra of Team Omega Pharma occupied the second, the third, the fourth and the fifth positions in the respective order.
Lars Boom finished 1 minute and 43 seconds behind to achieve the sixth position while Matteo Tosatto, Mathew Hayman and Johan Vansummeren finishing at the seventh, the eighth and the ninth position.
Boonen commented after the race, “I was just fighting myself. I was taking it step by step, cobblestone by cobblestone, kilometre by kilometre”.
“I think if you start thinking about the 60 or 57 km, which is when I left, it's nearly impossible. It is all in your mind. I was really thinking about my lead”.
“It was the best way to save my strength and put all my strength into the 50km in front of me. I think it was the best option”.
Vansummeren succeeded during the 2011 version of the Paris-Roubaix and was keen to repeat his previous performance.
He told HLN.be, “He [Boonen] was really impressive. I just didn't have the legs. It's that simple It was just hopeless. He was much too strong.”
Johan has claimed only one victory in the current season which came during the second stage of the Tour of Qatar.
He secured the 9th spot during the Paris-Roubaix and 10th during the Strade Bianche in the current season.
Vansummeren is now targeting the coming stages of the season and is optimistic to secure some healthy wins in the remaining part of the year.
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