Tom Boonen targets full fitness for 2011 season
Belgian rider Tom Boonen has returned to training largely free of symptoms from the knee operation he underwent in July.
The 30-year-old finished fifth in this year's Paris–Roubaix before crashing during the first stage of the Tour of California to sustain a knee problem that was aggravated at the Tour de Suisse.
"I only really stopped training for two weeks. I went on holiday and that was it," Boonen told Flemish network
Sporza. Having missed the Tour de France, the Belgian returned to racing in late September, and is now nearly rid of his injury problems.
"It's going very well now. When I ride it doesn't bother me at all. In everyday life, it hurts now and then, but people have that after surgery."
As a result of his injury-ridden season, the eight-time Tour stage winner is preparing rigorously for 2011, having started his pre-season routine earlier than usual.
"My legs are equal again. I didn't want to cancel that out by taking an extra two weeks of holidays, so I began slightly earlier than in other years. I'm also doing gym work and boxing, which is something different."
Boonen, who has raced for Quick Step since 2003, will hope to add to his five victories in the Flanders Classics during the spring of next year.
Boonen's cyclo-cross charity event
But before then, he will organize a second annual cyclo-cross race for charity, set to take place 5 December in Mol, Boonen's home town.
Severable notable riders, including Katusha's Filippo Pozzato and Andre Greipel of Omega Pharma-Lotto, are set to start the event.
"Cyclo-cross has always been an enjoyable winter pastime. In 2009, we had the idea of organising a race to raise money for the 'Move to Improve' charity. I personally invited most of the participants, it's a lot of fun."
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