Roger De Vlaeminck commented on Tom Boonen’s fourth win at the Paris-Roubaix 2012
Former Belgian cyclist and the world record holder for the most number of Paris-Roubaix wins, Roger De Vlaeminck has commented on Tom Boonen’s recent victory at the race.
Boonen has equalled the 35-year-old record by completing his set of four wins during the 2005, 2008, 2009 and 2012 versions of the French event.
He completed the race in a fastest time of 5 hours, 55 minutes and 22 seconds and overcame his main rivals.
Sebastien Turgot of Team Europcar occupied the second position as he finished 1 minute and 39 seconds behind the leader.
Alessandro Ballan of Team BMC, Juan Antonio Flecha of Team Sky and Niki Terpstra of Team Omega Pharma-Quick Step occupied the third, the fourth and the fifth spots.
Roger De Vlaeminck proved his mettle during the 1972, 1974, 1975 and 1977 editions of the Paris-Roubaix and enjoyed the world record for a total number of 35 years.
Roger was interviewed by the Belgian newspaper, Het Nieuwsblad right after Boonen’s victory to share his point of view.
Vlaeminck noted that, Fabian Cancellara’s injury made it pretty easy for Tom and also briefed that the other favourites of the race could not really perform to their calibre.
“I hope Cancellara participates next year, then we see a different race. I knew beforehand that he [Boonen] would be next to me [on the list of all-time career victories]”.
“Tom cannot help it that this time he had no opposition. They were not second, but third-rate riders”, he cited.
"Take Pozzato: if you want to win, your task for the last hundred kilometres is to stick within an inch of Boonen's wheel”.
“The competition provided him with no obstacles and they probably couldn't have done any better than they did”.
“When he [Boonen] was twenty meters ahead, I already knew the outcome", he concluded.
Tom is currently enjoying a terrific run of form and has already filled his pockets with the maximum number of wins in the first part of the season.
He secured the overall victories at the Tour of Flanders, Gent-Wevelgem and the E3 Harelbeke.
However, one race where Tom has not excelled is the Milan-San Remo and Vlaeminck believes Boonen should also try to bag victories at the races like Giro di Lombardia and the Milan-San Remo.
Tags: