Sylvain Chavanel and Filippo Pozzato favourites for the Tour of Flanders, Tom Boonen
Tom Boonen of Team Omega-Pharma Quick Step attended the fully packed press conference in Belgium just ahead of the Tour of Flanders.
He was a changed man especially after the overall success at the E3 Prijs Harelbeke and Gent-Wevelgem just ahead of his home World Tour event.
Boonen’s tremendous form is evident through the long list of victories that he has claimed in the season already.
The 31-year-old secured the first overall spot during the 2005 and the 2006 editions of the race and is determined to repeat his old performance at the contest.
He missed the victory by a narrow margin in 2010 and finished second with a fourth overall finish in the most recent edition of the event.
However, the race’s current favourite is clearly not Tom, especially in the presence of the mighty Fabian Cancellara.
He occupied the top podium spot during the Tour of Flanders 2010 and finished ahead of Boonen during the most recent version of the race to grab the third spot.
Tom shared his thoughts during the press conference, "It doesn't really matter to me who's the favorite. [Cancellara] is a strong rider but I've never raced to beat someone specific except myself".
"Of course if he attacks in the finale and I see it's the decisive attack then I'll react but I'll certainly not mark every move he makes all day long".
"Maybe he's got a slightly bigger engine but I'm a little bit faster. We're two different riders with the same objectives. If you look at it in a physical way then we're a level above the rest".
The 31-year old believes that the new route of the Belgian race will suit him and Cancellara both.
"With a really hard finale then we're the two riders who can decide the race although that doesn't want to say one of us will win. We've got the key to the race in our hands".
Tom briefed that his teammates Filippo Pozzato and Sylvain Chavanel are more likely to seal the deal on eighth biggest race of the season.
Tour of Flanders is scheduled on April 1st and the winner of the event will be awarded with a 100 UCI points.
The second and the third position holders will receive 80 and 70 points, respectively.
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