Tom Boonen
Encyclopedia
Tom Boonen Boʊnən is a Belgian
professional road bicycle racer who won the 2005 World Road Race Championship. He is a member of the team, and is considered a single-day road race specialist with a strong finishing sprint
. His personality and looks, combined with his successes, also turned him into Belgium's main male sports idol of the mid-2000s, but he incurred censure after testing positive twice for the use of cocaine
.
rider Johan Museeuw
had escaped off the front of the race to a solo victory, and team captain George Hincapie
crashed in a slippery section of the course leaving Boonen to ride for himself. Boonen's performance in the race compelled Museeuw - his childhood hero - to publicly declare Boonen his natural successor.
However, Boonen was not completely happy at US Postal, claiming he did not get enough chances to ride for himself. Towards the end of the year he announced he would leave the team, despite being under contract, and joined Quick Step-Davitamon at the start of 2003. The 2003 season, however, did not go well for Boonen, who saw lacklustre performance due to fatigue and a knee injury. In this season Museeuw was the undisputed team leader for the spring classics campaign.
The 2004 season saw Boonen rise up to the challenge to win the E3 Prijs Vlaanderen
, the classic
race Gent–Wevelgem and the Grote Scheldeprijs
. In addition, he also won two stages of the Tour de France
including the prestigious final stage
in Paris
, just as Museeuw did in 1990.
), he stamped his authority on the cobbled Spring Classics. Boonen also became the first cyclist in history to win the Ronde van Vlaanderen, Paris–Roubaix, and the World Cycling Championship
in the same season.
In his Ronde van Vlaanderen victory Boonen was considered the strongest sprinter
in the final group of riders. However, instead of waiting for the final moment, he attacked a few kilometers from the finish to the surprise of other riders in the group, and stayed away for a solo victory. One of the other riders in the peloton, Erik Dekker
, afterwards declared that "I'm happy that I am near the end of my career, since with a cyclist like Boonen the spring classics will be rather boring the coming years". In his Paris–Roubaix victory, he entered the Roubaix velodrome in the leading trio, and waited until the last moment before launching a sprint that saw him beat American George Hincapie
and Spaniard Juan Antonio Flecha
.
In the Tour de France
, he won the second and the third stage. In this edition, Boonen claimed the green jersey
after the second stage. However, he was forced to retire from the race after stage 11, after multiple crashes. The jersey was reliquished to Norwegian Thor Hushovd
, who held on for the rest of the tour, becoming the eventual winner. On September 25 he became the twenty-first Belgian World Champion after the World Cycling Championship
s in Madrid
. A six-man breakaway was reeled in in the final straight by the group that he was in, before he powered home ahead of Alejandro Valverde
. He is the first Belgian since Museeuw, in 1996, to wear the rainbow jersey
. With these victories he secured second place in the overall standings of the 2005 UCI ProTour
.
At the end of the year Boonen won several awards: Kristallen Fiets (Crystal Bicycle), Vélo d'Or
(Golden Bicycle), Trofee voor Sportverdienste (Trophy For Sporting Merit), Belgian Sportsman of the year
and Belgian Sports Personality of the Year
.
After the incredible start, Boonen had a disappointing Tour of Belgium
. Before the start of the 2006 Tour de France, he claimed that he considered himself the strongest and smartest sprinter. However, he did not win a stage in the first week, as he was beaten by his sprinter competitors Robbie McEwen
and Óscar Freire
. In spite of this, he was able to claim the yellow jersey for the first time in his career, but lost it in the first time trial to time trial specialist Sergei Honchar.
Boonen abandoned the Tour de France during the 15th stage - 187 km from Gap to l'Alpe d'Huez - when he was unable to reach the summit of the Col du Lautaret
. According to the team manager, Boonen lost a lot of weight during the Tour, and got a much needed rest period where he was able to regain it.
With regained strength, at the Eneco Tour of Benelux he won three stages. However, he was unable to defend his world title at the UCI Road World Championships
, held on a circuit that was less flat than in Madrid 2005, and lost his title to Quick Step-Innergetic
teammate Paolo Bettini
, finishing ninth.
and finished second overall after teammate Wilfried Cretskens
. He later won several Flemish races like Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne and E3 Prijs Vlaanderen, but failed to win any classics. His best effort in that respect was a 3rd place in Milan – San Remo, resulting in an overall slightly disappointing spring season.
Next Boonen took part in the Tour de France
. In the absence of main rival Alessandro Petacchi
, and after an early injury to Robbie McEwen, he met expectations by winning two stages (stages 6 and 12), and winning the Maillot vert competition. It was the first Belgian green jersey since Eddy Planckaert
's in 1988.
Boonen began his 2008 season by winning four stages and the overall and points classifications in the Tour of Qatar. In the Ronde van Vlaanderen, his first main goal of the season, he showed good form but took on a defensive role when his teammate Stijn Devolder
escaped and subsequently won. The week after, he outsprinted Fabian Cancellara
and Alessandro Ballan
in the final 500m to win the Paris–Roubaix. On 10 June 2008, several sources claimed that Boonen was negotiating with Bouygues Télécom about a contract, which sporting director
Jean-René Bernaudeau
confirmed. The move to Bouygues would involve two or three riders going with him, with the names of Wilfried Cretskens
and Kevin Hulsmans
frequently named.
On that same day though, it was revealed that Boonen had tested positive for cocaine
in a test on May 26. Since this was outside competition, and cocaine is not considered a performance enhancing drug, Boonen did not face sanctions by the UCI or WADA. During a press conference the day after, he offered his apologies and team manager Patrick Lefevere stated that, since these were considered difficulties of a private nature, team Quick Step maintained its confidence in him. Despite the absence of official sanctions, Boonen was immediately barred from the Tour of Switzerland and later from the Tour de France
. In February 2009 a Belgian court found him guilty of cocaine use but decided not to hand down criminal sanctions against Boonen, saying that he has "been punished enough".
. He also won Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne for the second time in his career. In the Ronde van Vlaanderen, his first main goal of the season, he showed good form but as in 2008 he had to take on a defensive role when his teammate Stijn Devolder escaped and subsequently won the Ronde for the second time. The following week Boonen won Paris–Roubaix for the third time.
On April 27, Boonen tested positive for cocaine in an out of competition test for the third time (the first occasion, in November 2007, had not previously been made public) and was suspended by his team, Quick Step, on May 9, and re-entered competition with them in the 2009 Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré
. Shortly after, in June, he won his National Championship.
After a long legal struggle he was allowed to enter the Tour de France one day before the start on the 3rd of July 2009. Citing illness, he withdrew from the Tour on 18 July 2009, before the fifteenth stage.
since late 2005. Before that he lived in Balen
, in the Flemish Region
of Belgium
.
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
professional road bicycle racer who won the 2005 World Road Race Championship. He is a member of the team, and is considered a single-day road race specialist with a strong finishing sprint
Cycling sprinter
A cycling sprinter is a road bicycle racer or track racer who can finish a race very explosively by accelerating quickly to a high speed, often using the slipstream of another cyclist or group of cyclists tactically to conserve energy.-The road sprinter:...
. His personality and looks, combined with his successes, also turned him into Belgium's main male sports idol of the mid-2000s, but he incurred censure after testing positive twice for the use of cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
.
Career overview
At the start of 2002 Boonen rode for the US Postal Service team, finishing third in Paris–Roubaix after an early breakaway. Fellow BelgianBelgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
rider Johan Museeuw
Johan Museeuw
Johan Museeuw is a retired Belgian professional road bicycle racer. He was a professional from 1988 to 2004 and was particularly successful in the classic cycle races in the nineties....
had escaped off the front of the race to a solo victory, and team captain George Hincapie
George Hincapie
George Hincapié Garcés is an American professional road bicycle racer currently riding for UCI ProTeam . Hincapie resides in Greenville, South Carolina...
crashed in a slippery section of the course leaving Boonen to ride for himself. Boonen's performance in the race compelled Museeuw - his childhood hero - to publicly declare Boonen his natural successor.
However, Boonen was not completely happy at US Postal, claiming he did not get enough chances to ride for himself. Towards the end of the year he announced he would leave the team, despite being under contract, and joined Quick Step-Davitamon at the start of 2003. The 2003 season, however, did not go well for Boonen, who saw lacklustre performance due to fatigue and a knee injury. In this season Museeuw was the undisputed team leader for the spring classics campaign.
The 2004 season saw Boonen rise up to the challenge to win the E3 Prijs Vlaanderen
E3 Prijs Vlaanderen
The E3 Harelbeke is an annual cycling race in the Flanders area of Belgium. The race starts and finishes in Harelbeke over 210 kilometres. The event is organised by the Hand in Hand Cycling Club of Harelbeke and is ranked 1.HC on the UCI Continental calendar....
, the classic
Classic cycle races
The classic cycle races are one-day professional cycling road races in the international calendar. Most of the events, all run in western Europe, have been fixtures on the professional calendar for decades and the oldest ones date back to the 19th Century. They are normally held at roughly the same...
race Gent–Wevelgem and the Grote Scheldeprijs
Grote Scheldeprijs
The Scheldeprijs is a Flanders Classics cycling race which starts in Antwerp and finishes in Schoten. The event, ranked at 1.HC on the UCI European calendar, is seen as a race for sprinters, held on flat roads over roughly 200 kilometres. The race is one circuit of 155 kilometres into the...
. In addition, he also won two stages of the Tour de France
2004 Tour de France
The 2004 Tour de France was the 91st, taking place from July 3 to July 25, 2004. It consisted of 20 stages over 3391 km.Lance Armstrong became the first to win six Tours de France. Armstrong had been favored to win, his competitors seen as being German Jan Ullrich, Spaniards Roberto Heras and...
including the prestigious final stage
Champs-Élysées stage in Tour de France
The Tour de France has finished on the Champs-Élysées every year since 1975. In the first edition of 1903, the finish was at Ville d'Avray; from 1904 to 1967 in Parc des Princes track and from 1968 to 1974 at the Vélodrome de Vincennes track.-History:...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, just as Museeuw did in 1990.
2005 - Winning Ronde, Roubaix and Worlds
2005 was the year in which Boonen firmly established himself as a competitor on the world stage. Winning the Ronde van Vlaanderen, Paris–Roubaix, E3 Prijs Vlaanderen, and finishing second in the Omloop "Het Volk" (behind teammate Nick NuyensNick Nuyens
Nick Nuyens is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam . His biggest wins to date include the semi-classics Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne, Omloop Het Volk, Paris–Brussels and the classic Tour of Flanders. He is generally viewed as a classics rider. He is married to the Belgian multiple...
), he stamped his authority on the cobbled Spring Classics. Boonen also became the first cyclist in history to win the Ronde van Vlaanderen, Paris–Roubaix, and the World Cycling Championship
World Cycling Championship
The UCI Road World Championships, often referred to as the World Cycling Championships, is the annual world championship for bicycle road racing organized by the Union Cycliste Internationale . The UCI Road World Championships include championships for elite men's road race and individual time trial...
in the same season.
In his Ronde van Vlaanderen victory Boonen was considered the strongest sprinter
Cycling sprinter
A cycling sprinter is a road bicycle racer or track racer who can finish a race very explosively by accelerating quickly to a high speed, often using the slipstream of another cyclist or group of cyclists tactically to conserve energy.-The road sprinter:...
in the final group of riders. However, instead of waiting for the final moment, he attacked a few kilometers from the finish to the surprise of other riders in the group, and stayed away for a solo victory. One of the other riders in the peloton, Erik Dekker
Erik Dekker
Hendrik "Erik" Dekker is a retired Dutch professional road racing cyclist active from 1992 until 2006. He was a member of the Rabobank cycling team from 1996 till 2006. In 2007 he became one of Rabobank's team managers.-Amateur career:...
, afterwards declared that "I'm happy that I am near the end of my career, since with a cyclist like Boonen the spring classics will be rather boring the coming years". In his Paris–Roubaix victory, he entered the Roubaix velodrome in the leading trio, and waited until the last moment before launching a sprint that saw him beat American George Hincapie
George Hincapie
George Hincapié Garcés is an American professional road bicycle racer currently riding for UCI ProTeam . Hincapie resides in Greenville, South Carolina...
and Spaniard Juan Antonio Flecha
Juan Antonio Flecha
Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni is an Argentine-born Spanish professional road bicycle racer for the UCI ProTour team .-Career:...
.
In the Tour de France
2005 Tour de France
The 2005 Tour de France was the 92nd Tour de France, taking place from July 2 to July 24, 2005. It comprised 21 stages over 3592.5 km, the winner's average speed was 41.654 km/h. The first stages were held in the département of the Vendée, for the third time in 12 years. The 2005 Tour was...
, he won the second and the third stage. In this edition, Boonen claimed the green jersey
Green jersey
The green jersey is a term used in road bicycle racing and Grand Tour stage races in particular. The green jersey is a distinctive racing jersey worn by the leader in a subsidiary competition....
after the second stage. However, he was forced to retire from the race after stage 11, after multiple crashes. The jersey was reliquished to Norwegian Thor Hushovd
Thor Hushovd
Thor Hushovd is a Norwegian professional road bicycle racer riding . He has signed for from 2012 onwards. He is known for sprinting and time trialing and is the 2010 Norwegian and world road champion. He is the first Norwegian to lead the Tour de France, and first Scandinavian to win the road...
, who held on for the rest of the tour, becoming the eventual winner. On September 25 he became the twenty-first Belgian World Champion after the World Cycling Championship
World Cycling Championship
The UCI Road World Championships, often referred to as the World Cycling Championships, is the annual world championship for bicycle road racing organized by the Union Cycliste Internationale . The UCI Road World Championships include championships for elite men's road race and individual time trial...
s in Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
. A six-man breakaway was reeled in in the final straight by the group that he was in, before he powered home ahead of Alejandro Valverde
Alejandro Valverde
Alejandro Valverde Belmonte is a Spanish road racing cyclist currently under suspension. He last rode for UCI ProTour team . Valverde's biggest wins have been the 2009 Vuelta a España, the Liège–Bastogne–Liège in 2006, 2008 and 2006 UCI ProTour series championship...
. He is the first Belgian since Museeuw, in 1996, to wear the rainbow jersey
Rainbow jersey
The Rainbow jersey is the distinctive jersey worn by the reigning world champion in a bicycle racing discipline. The jersey is predominantly white with five horizontal bands in the UCI colours around the chest. From the bottom up the colours are: green, yellow, black, red and blue; the same colours...
. With these victories he secured second place in the overall standings of the 2005 UCI ProTour
2005 UCI ProTour
The 2005 ProTour was the first year of the newly introduced UCI ProTour system, in which the ProTour teams are guaranteed, and obliged to, participate in the series of ProTour races. In certain ways the ProTour replaced the UCI Road World Cup series of one-day races, which in 2004 was won by...
.
At the end of the year Boonen won several awards: Kristallen Fiets (Crystal Bicycle), Vélo d'Or
Vélo d'Or
The "" is a cycle racing award, created in 1992 by the French cycling magazine Vélo Magazine. Vélo d'or is widely regarded as the most prestigious individual award in cycling. The award is given annually to the rider considered to have performed the best over the year.Lance Armstrong holds the...
(Golden Bicycle), Trofee voor Sportverdienste (Trophy For Sporting Merit), Belgian Sportsman of the year
Belgian Sportsman of the year
The Belgian Sportsman of the Year is elected at the end of each year, annually since 1967. A Belgian Sportswoman of the Year title has been given out since 1975...
and Belgian Sports Personality of the Year
Belgian Sports Personality of the Year
The Belgian Sports Personality of the Year is an annual sports award given in January by the Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad to the greatest personality in sports. For this award, not only athletes qualify but everyone who's involved in sports A person can only win this award once in his...
.
2006 season
In 2006, Boonen again had an incredible start of the season, highlighted by winning the Ronde van Vlaanderen again.After the incredible start, Boonen had a disappointing Tour of Belgium
Tour of Belgium
The Tour of Belgium is a four-day bicycle race which is held annually in Belgium.It was held annually between 1908 and 1981, except during both world wars. Between 1982 and 1990 several of races were not organised and none at all during the decade 1991 to 2001...
. Before the start of the 2006 Tour de France, he claimed that he considered himself the strongest and smartest sprinter. However, he did not win a stage in the first week, as he was beaten by his sprinter competitors Robbie McEwen
Robbie McEwen
Robbie McEwen is an Australian professional road bicycle racer, for on the UCI ProTour, specializing in sprint finishes...
and Óscar Freire
Óscar Freire
Óscar Freire Gómez is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer, riding for the UCI ProTeam Rabobank. He is one of the top sprinters in road bicycle racing, having won the world championship a three times, equalling Alfredo Binda, Rik Van Steenbergen and Eddy Merckx...
. In spite of this, he was able to claim the yellow jersey for the first time in his career, but lost it in the first time trial to time trial specialist Sergei Honchar.
Col du Lautaret
Col du Lautaret is a high mountain pass in the department of Hautes-Alpes in France.It marks the boundary between the valleys of the Romanche and the Guisane, a tributary of the Durance which has its source at the col. The valleys are linked by national route 91...
. According to the team manager, Boonen lost a lot of weight during the Tour, and got a much needed rest period where he was able to regain it.
With regained strength, at the Eneco Tour of Benelux he won three stages. However, he was unable to defend his world title at the UCI Road World Championships
2006 UCI Road World Championships
The 2006 UCI Road World Championships took place in Salzburg, Austria, between September 19 and September 24, 2006. The event consisted of a road race and a time trial for men, women and men under 23....
, held on a circuit that was less flat than in Madrid 2005, and lost his title to Quick Step-Innergetic
Quick Step-Innergetic
Quick Step is a Belgian UCI ProTour cycling team led by team manager Patrick Lefévère. The directors are Rik Verbrugghe, Davide Bramati, Wilfried Peeters, Rik Van Slycke and Luca Guercilena. The mechanics are Jeanick Verstraete and Kurt Roose...
teammate Paolo Bettini
Paolo Bettini
Paolo Bettini is an Italian former champion road racing cyclist, and the coach of the Italian national cycling team. Considered the best classics specialist of his generation, and probably one of the strongest of all times, he won gold medals in the 2004 Athens Olympics road race and in the 2006...
, finishing ninth.
2007 season
In his 2007 season, Boonen went off to a great start again by winning five stages at the Tour of Qatar2007 Tour of Qatar
The 2007 Tour of Qatar was held from 28 January to 2 February 2007 in Qatar. It was a multiple stage road cycling race that took part over six stages with a total of 715.5 kilometres and is part of the 2006–2007 UCI Asia Tour.-Stage summary:...
and finished second overall after teammate Wilfried Cretskens
Wilfried Cretskens
Wilfried Cretskens is a Belgian road bicycle racer who is currently under contract to UCI Continental team Donckers Koffie-Jelly Belly, having joined them on May 2, 2011.- Major Wins :2007...
. He later won several Flemish races like Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne and E3 Prijs Vlaanderen, but failed to win any classics. His best effort in that respect was a 3rd place in Milan – San Remo, resulting in an overall slightly disappointing spring season.
Next Boonen took part in the Tour de France
2007 Tour de France
The 2007 Tour de France, the 94th running of the race, took place from 7 July to 29 July 2007. The Tour began with a prologue in London, and ended with the traditional finish in Paris. Along the way, the route also passed through Belgium and Spain...
. In the absence of main rival Alessandro Petacchi
Alessandro Petacchi
Alessandro Petacchi is an Italian professional road racing cyclist for .A specialist sprinter, Petacchi has won 51 grand tour stages with wins of the points jersey in the Giro d'Italia in 2004, the Vuelta a España in 2005 and the Tour de France in 2010.In 2007 Alessandro was banned from cycling...
, and after an early injury to Robbie McEwen, he met expectations by winning two stages (stages 6 and 12), and winning the Maillot vert competition. It was the first Belgian green jersey since Eddy Planckaert
Eddy Planckaert
Eddy Planckaert is a former professional road racing cyclist from Belgium. In 1988, Planckaert enjoyed perhaps his best year by capturing the green jersey at the 1988 Tour de France and winning the Ronde van Vlaanderen...
's in 1988.
2008 season
Stijn Devolder
Stijn Devolder is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer. He rides for UCI ProTeam , having ridden for Discovery Channel between 2004 and 2007 and from 2008 to 2010. Devolder won his first professional race at the 2004 Four Days of Dunkirk, winning stage 4...
escaped and subsequently won. The week after, he outsprinted Fabian Cancellara
Fabian Cancellara
Fabian Cancellara is a Swiss professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam . A time trial specialist, he is a four-time World Time Trial Champion and is the current Olympic gold medalist...
and Alessandro Ballan
Alessandro Ballan
Alessandro Ballan is an Italian professional road bicycle racer for UCI Professional Continental team , and is a former world champion. Although he possesses a frame that is usually more associated with climbing, Ballan has established himself as a leading spring classics contender in recent years...
in the final 500m to win the Paris–Roubaix. On 10 June 2008, several sources claimed that Boonen was negotiating with Bouygues Télécom about a contract, which sporting director
Directeur sportif
A directeur sportif is a person directing a cycling team during a road bicycle racing event...
Jean-René Bernaudeau
Jean-René Bernaudeau
Jean-René Bernaudeau is a French former professional road bicycle racer. He was professional from 1978 to 1988. Bernaudeau is currently directeur sportif of the Team Europcar cycling team...
confirmed. The move to Bouygues would involve two or three riders going with him, with the names of Wilfried Cretskens
Wilfried Cretskens
Wilfried Cretskens is a Belgian road bicycle racer who is currently under contract to UCI Continental team Donckers Koffie-Jelly Belly, having joined them on May 2, 2011.- Major Wins :2007...
and Kevin Hulsmans
Kevin Hulsmans
Kevin Hulsmans is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer for Donckers Koffie-Jelly Belly.-Victories:200020022006-External links:*...
frequently named.
On that same day though, it was revealed that Boonen had tested positive for cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
in a test on May 26. Since this was outside competition, and cocaine is not considered a performance enhancing drug, Boonen did not face sanctions by the UCI or WADA. During a press conference the day after, he offered his apologies and team manager Patrick Lefevere stated that, since these were considered difficulties of a private nature, team Quick Step maintained its confidence in him. Despite the absence of official sanctions, Boonen was immediately barred from the Tour of Switzerland and later from the Tour de France
Tour de France
The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
. In February 2009 a Belgian court found him guilty of cocaine use but decided not to hand down criminal sanctions against Boonen, saying that he has "been punished enough".
2009 season
Boonen began his 2009 season by winning a stage and the overall and points classifications in the Tour of QatarTour of Qatar
The Tour of Qatar is a road bicycle race race held in Qatar and is part of the UCI Asia Tour. The race consists of a men's competition over six stages...
. He also won Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne for the second time in his career. In the Ronde van Vlaanderen, his first main goal of the season, he showed good form but as in 2008 he had to take on a defensive role when his teammate Stijn Devolder escaped and subsequently won the Ronde for the second time. The following week Boonen won Paris–Roubaix for the third time.
On April 27, Boonen tested positive for cocaine in an out of competition test for the third time (the first occasion, in November 2007, had not previously been made public) and was suspended by his team, Quick Step, on May 9, and re-entered competition with them in the 2009 Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré
2009 Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré
The 2009 Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré was the 61st edition of the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré stage race. It took place from 7 June to 14 June, and was part of both the 2009 UCI ProTour and the inaugural World Calendar. It began in Nancy, France with an individual time trial, and ended in Grenoble...
. Shortly after, in June, he won his National Championship.
After a long legal struggle he was allowed to enter the Tour de France one day before the start on the 3rd of July 2009. Citing illness, he withdrew from the Tour on 18 July 2009, before the fifteenth stage.
Personal life
Boonen has been living in MonacoMonaco
Monaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the...
since late 2005. Before that he lived in Balen
Balen
Balen is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the towns of Balen proper and Olmen. On 1 January 2009 Balen had a total population of 20,643...
, in the Flemish Region
Flemish Region
The Flemish Region is one of the three official regions of the Kingdom of Belgium—alongside the Walloon Region and the Brussels-Capital Region. Colloquially, it is usually simply referred to as Flanders, of which it is the institutional iteration within the context of the Belgian political system...
of Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
.
Palmares
2001- 1st Zellik - Galmaarden
2002
- 1st Stage 1 Volta a Catalunya
- 1st Stage 2 International Uniqua Classic
- 1st WilrijkWilrijkWilrijk is a district of the municipality and city of Antwerp in the Flemish Region of Belgium. Wilrijk had been a separate municipality before January 1, 1983; the enlarged municipality of Antwerp was decentralized in 2000 and Wilrijk became one the city's nine districts.This suburb is also known...
- 3rd Paris–Roubaix
2003
- 1st Stage 3 Tour of BelgiumTour of BelgiumThe Tour of Belgium is a four-day bicycle race which is held annually in Belgium.It was held annually between 1908 and 1981, except during both world wars. Between 1982 and 1990 several of races were not organised and none at all during the decade 1991 to 2001...
2004
- 1st Gent–Wevelgem
- 1st Stage 6 Tour de France2004 Tour de FranceThe 2004 Tour de France was the 91st, taking place from July 3 to July 25, 2004. It consisted of 20 stages over 3391 km.Lance Armstrong became the first to win six Tours de France. Armstrong had been favored to win, his competitors seen as being German Jan Ullrich, Spaniards Roberto Heras and...
- 1st Stage 20 Tour de France2004 Tour de FranceThe 2004 Tour de France was the 91st, taking place from July 3 to July 25, 2004. It consisted of 20 stages over 3391 km.Lance Armstrong became the first to win six Tours de France. Armstrong had been favored to win, his competitors seen as being German Jan Ullrich, Spaniards Roberto Heras and...
- 1st E3 Prijs VlaanderenE3 Prijs VlaanderenThe E3 Harelbeke is an annual cycling race in the Flanders area of Belgium. The race starts and finishes in Harelbeke over 210 kilometres. The event is organised by the Hand in Hand Cycling Club of Harelbeke and is ranked 1.HC on the UCI Continental calendar....
- 1st Grote ScheldeprijsGrote ScheldeprijsThe Scheldeprijs is a Flanders Classics cycling race which starts in Antwerp and finishes in Schoten. The event, ranked at 1.HC on the UCI European calendar, is seen as a race for sprinters, held on flat roads over roughly 200 kilometres. The race is one circuit of 155 kilometres into the...
- 1st
Overall, Tour de PicardieTour de PicardieThe Tour de Picardie is a professional multi-stage cycle road race held annually in Picardy, France. Since 2005, it has been organised as a 2.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour....
- 1st
Points Classification - 1st Stage 1
- 1st Stage 2
- 1st
- 1st Stage 2 Deutschland TourDeutschland TourThe Deutschland Tour was the most important multi-stage road bicycle race in Germany. Initially the race was held in May/June. Since 2005 it is part of the UCI ProTour and has been moved to August...
- 1st Stage 7 Deutschland TourDeutschland TourThe Deutschland Tour was the most important multi-stage road bicycle race in Germany. Initially the race was held in May/June. Since 2005 it is part of the UCI ProTour and has been moved to August...
- 1st Stage 1 Vuelta a AndalucíaVuelta a AndalucíaThe Vuelta a Andalucía or Ruta del Sol is a regional Spanish road bicycle race. Since 2005, it has been a 2.1 category race on the UCI Europe Tour....
- 1st Prologue Ster Elektrotour
- 1st Stage 1 Ster Elektrotour
- 1st Stage 3 Circuit Franco-BelgeCircuit Franco-BelgeThe Tour de Wallonie-Picarde is a stage race cycling race held annually in Belgium and France. Since 2005, the race has been organized as a 2.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour- Winners :...
- 1st Stage 4 Circuit Franco-BelgeCircuit Franco-BelgeThe Tour de Wallonie-Picarde is a stage race cycling race held annually in Belgium and France. Since 2005, the race has been organized as a 2.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour- Winners :...
- 1st Stage 3 Tour of BritainTour of BritainThe Tour of Britain is a cycle race, conducted over several stages, in which participants race from place to place across parts of Great Britain....
- 1st GP Rik Van SteenbergenMemorial Rik Van SteenbergenMemorial Rik Van Steenbergen is a single-day road bicycle race held annually in September in Aartselaar, Belgium. The race, paying respect the famous Belgian rider of the 40's and 50's, quickly gained importance and since 2005, it is a 1.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour.-Winners:...
- 3rd Overall, Tour of QatarTour of QatarThe Tour of Qatar is a road bicycle race race held in Qatar and is part of the UCI Asia Tour. The race consists of a men's competition over six stages...
- 1st Points Classification
- 1st Young Rider Classification
- 1st Stage 2
- 1st
2005
- 1st
Road World Championships - Road Race2005 UCI Road World ChampionshipsThe 2005 UCI Road World Championships took place in Madrid, Spain, between September 19 and September 25, 2005. The event consisted of a road race and a time trial for men, women and men under 23.The Men's road race saw Belgian cyclist Tom Boonen winning.... - 1st Stage 2 Tour de France2005 Tour de FranceThe 2005 Tour de France was the 92nd Tour de France, taking place from July 2 to July 24, 2005. It comprised 21 stages over 3592.5 km, the winner's average speed was 41.654 km/h. The first stages were held in the département of the Vendée, for the third time in 12 years. The 2005 Tour was...
- 1st Stage 3 Tour de France2005 Tour de FranceThe 2005 Tour de France was the 92nd Tour de France, taking place from July 2 to July 24, 2005. It comprised 21 stages over 3592.5 km, the winner's average speed was 41.654 km/h. The first stages were held in the département of the Vendée, for the third time in 12 years. The 2005 Tour was...
- 1st Stage 1 Paris–Nice
- 1st Stage 2 Paris–Nice
- 1st Paris–Roubaix
- 1st Ronde van Vlaanderen
- 1st E3 Prijs VlaanderenE3 Prijs VlaanderenThe E3 Harelbeke is an annual cycling race in the Flanders area of Belgium. The race starts and finishes in Harelbeke over 210 kilometres. The event is organised by the Hand in Hand Cycling Club of Harelbeke and is ranked 1.HC on the UCI Continental calendar....
- 1st Overall, Tour of BelgiumTour of BelgiumThe Tour of Belgium is a four-day bicycle race which is held annually in Belgium.It was held annually between 1908 and 1981, except during both world wars. Between 1982 and 1990 several of races were not organised and none at all during the decade 1991 to 2001...
- 1st Stage 1
- 1st Stage 2
- 4th Overall, Tour of QatarTour of QatarThe Tour of Qatar is a road bicycle race race held in Qatar and is part of the UCI Asia Tour. The race consists of a men's competition over six stages...
- 1st Points Classification (Silver Jersey)
- 1st Stage 1
- 1st Stage 2
- 1st
- 10th Overall, Tour de PicardieTour de PicardieThe Tour de Picardie is a professional multi-stage cycle road race held annually in Picardy, France. Since 2005, it has been organised as a 2.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour....
- 1st Stage 2
2006
- 1st Ronde van Vlaanderen
- 1st Stage 1 Paris–Nice
- 1st Stage 2 Paris–Nice
- 1st Stage 4 Paris–Nice
- 1st E3 Prijs VlaanderenE3 Prijs VlaanderenThe E3 Harelbeke is an annual cycling race in the Flanders area of Belgium. The race starts and finishes in Harelbeke over 210 kilometres. The event is organised by the Hand in Hand Cycling Club of Harelbeke and is ranked 1.HC on the UCI Continental calendar....
- 1st Doha International GP
- 1st Overall, Tour of QatarTour of QatarThe Tour of Qatar is a road bicycle race race held in Qatar and is part of the UCI Asia Tour. The race consists of a men's competition over six stages...
- 1st Points Classification
- 1st Stage 1
- 1st Stage 2
- 1st Stage 3
- 1st Stage 5
- 1st
- 1st Stage 5, Vuelta a AndalucíaVuelta a AndalucíaThe Vuelta a Andalucía or Ruta del Sol is a regional Spanish road bicycle race. Since 2005, it has been a 2.1 category race on the UCI Europe Tour....
- 1st Grote ScheldeprijsGrote ScheldeprijsThe Scheldeprijs is a Flanders Classics cycling race which starts in Antwerp and finishes in Schoten. The event, ranked at 1.HC on the UCI European calendar, is seen as a race for sprinters, held on flat roads over roughly 200 kilometres. The race is one circuit of 155 kilometres into the...
- 1st Stage 2 Tour of BelgiumTour of BelgiumThe Tour of Belgium is a four-day bicycle race which is held annually in Belgium.It was held annually between 1908 and 1981, except during both world wars. Between 1982 and 1990 several of races were not organised and none at all during the decade 1991 to 2001...
- 1st Stage 3 Tour of BelgiumTour of BelgiumThe Tour of Belgium is a four-day bicycle race which is held annually in Belgium.It was held annually between 1908 and 1981, except during both world wars. Between 1982 and 1990 several of races were not organised and none at all during the decade 1991 to 2001...
- 1st Veenendaal–Veenendaal
- 1st Stage 1, Tour de Suisse
- 1st Stage 1 Eneco Tour of Benelux
- 1st Stage 3 Eneco Tour of Benelux
- 1st Stage 5 Eneco Tour of Benelux
- 1st Stage 6, Tour of BritainTour of BritainThe Tour of Britain is a cycle race, conducted over several stages, in which participants race from place to place across parts of Great Britain....
- 2nd Paris–Roubaix
- Tour de France2006 Tour de FranceThe 2006 Tour de France was the 93rd Tour de France, taking place from July 1 to July 23, 2006. It was won by Óscar Pereiro following the disqualification of apparent winner Floyd Landis....
- Held Maillot Jaune in Stage 3-6
- Held
2007
- 1st Green Jersey Tour de France2007 Tour de FranceThe 2007 Tour de France, the 94th running of the race, took place from 7 July to 29 July 2007. The Tour began with a prologue in London, and ended with the traditional finish in Paris. Along the way, the route also passed through Belgium and Spain...
- 1st Stage 6
- 1st Stage 12
- 1st Stage 4 Vuelta a AndalucíaVuelta a AndalucíaThe Vuelta a Andalucía or Ruta del Sol is a regional Spanish road bicycle race. Since 2005, it has been a 2.1 category race on the UCI Europe Tour....
- 1st Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne
- 1st Dwars door VlaanderenDwars door VlaanderenDwars door Vlaanderen is a Flanders Classics road bicycle race. Traditionally, it is the start of the Flemish cycling week, with Gent–Wevelgem , the Three Days of De Panne and the Ronde van Vlaanderen. Dwars door Vlaanderen has always been contested on a Wednesday, a week and a half before the...
- 1st E3 Prijs VlaanderenE3 Prijs VlaanderenThe E3 Harelbeke is an annual cycling race in the Flanders area of Belgium. The race starts and finishes in Harelbeke over 210 kilometres. The event is organised by the Hand in Hand Cycling Club of Harelbeke and is ranked 1.HC on the UCI Continental calendar....
- 2nd Overall, Tour of QatarTour of QatarThe Tour of Qatar is a road bicycle race race held in Qatar and is part of the UCI Asia Tour. The race consists of a men's competition over six stages...
- 1st Points Classification
- 1st Stage 1 (TTT)
- 1st Stage 2
- 1st Stage 3
- 1st Stage 4
- 1st Stage 6
- 1st
- 3rd Omloop "Het Volk"
- 3rd Milan – San Remo
2008
- 1st Paris–Roubaix
- 1st Stage 3 Vuelta a EspañaVuelta a EspañaThe Vuelta a España is a three-week road bicycle racing stage race that is one of the three "Grand Tours" of Europe and part of the UCI World Ranking calendar. The race lasts three weeks and attracts cyclists from around the world. The race is broken into day-long segments, called stages...
- 1st Stage 16 Vuelta a EspañaVuelta a EspañaThe Vuelta a España is a three-week road bicycle racing stage race that is one of the three "Grand Tours" of Europe and part of the UCI World Ranking calendar. The race lasts three weeks and attracts cyclists from around the world. The race is broken into day-long segments, called stages...
- 1st Overall, Tour of Qatar2008 Tour of QatarThe 2008 Tour of Qatar was held from 27 January to 1 February 2008 in Qatar. It is a multiple stage road cycling race that took part over six stages with a total of 712.5 kilometres and is part of the 2007–2008 UCI Asia Tour.-Stage summary:...
- 1st Points Classification
- 1st Stage 1 (TTT)
- 1st Stage 2
- 1st Stage 3
- 1st Stage 6
- 1st
- 1st Stage 2 Tour of California2008 Tour of CaliforniaThe 2008 Tour of California was the third edition of an eight-day, 650-mile stage race, which began in Palo Alto , then raced through the California redwoods, wine country and the Pacific Coast and finished in Pasadena. The road bicycle racing event was held February 17–24...
- 1st Stage 5 Tour of BelgiumTour of BelgiumThe Tour of Belgium is a four-day bicycle race which is held annually in Belgium.It was held annually between 1908 and 1981, except during both world wars. Between 1982 and 1990 several of races were not organised and none at all during the decade 1991 to 2001...
- 1st Stage 4 Ster ElektrotoerSter ElektrotoerThe Ster ZLM Toer is a stage race cycling race, held in the Netherlands as 2.1 race on the UCI Europe Tour. The race started in 1987 as an amateur race, and became a race for professional cyclists in 1996.-Name of the race:...
- 1st Stage 7 Österreich RundfahrtÖsterreich RundfahrtThe Tour of Austria is a stage cycling race held in Austria. From 1949 to 1995 it was a race for amateur cyclists, turning into a professional event in 1996. In 2005 and 2006 it was organised as a 2.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour, becoming a 2.HC event in 2007. Since 2005 it has usually been held...
- 1st Stage 1 Tour de WallonieTour de WallonieThe Tour de Wallonie is a stage race cycling race on the UCI Europe Tour. It runs in Wallonia, the French-speaking part of Belgium in the end of July. Between 1974 and 1995 it was reserved to amateurs. Since 2005, the race has been organized as a 2.HC event on the UCI Europe Tour- Winners...
- 1st Stage 1 Eneco Tour2008 Eneco Tour of BeneluxThe 2008 Eneco Tour of Benelux cycling road race takes place from August 20 to August 27, 2008 in the Benelux. Like the previous years, parts of the Netherlands and Belgium are covered...
- 1st Stage 4 Eneco Tour2008 Eneco Tour of BeneluxThe 2008 Eneco Tour of Benelux cycling road race takes place from August 20 to August 27, 2008 in the Benelux. Like the previous years, parts of the Netherlands and Belgium are covered...
- 1st Stage 1 Circuit Franco-BelgeCircuit Franco-BelgeThe Tour de Wallonie-Picarde is a stage race cycling race held annually in Belgium and France. Since 2005, the race has been organized as a 2.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour- Winners :...
- 2nd Grote ScheldeprijsGrote ScheldeprijsThe Scheldeprijs is a Flanders Classics cycling race which starts in Antwerp and finishes in Schoten. The event, ranked at 1.HC on the UCI European calendar, is seen as a race for sprinters, held on flat roads over roughly 200 kilometres. The race is one circuit of 155 kilometres into the...
2009
- 1st
Belgian National Road Race Championship - 1st Paris–Roubaix
- 1st Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne
- 1st Stage 3, Eneco Tour
- 1st Overall, Tour of Qatar2009 Tour of QatarThe 2009 Tour of Qatar was held from 1 February to 6 February 2009 in Qatar. It was a multiple stage road cycling race that took part over six stages with a total of and was part of the 2008-2009 UCI Asia Tour...
- 1st Stage 3
- 1st Stage 3 Circuit Franco-BelgeCircuit Franco-BelgeThe Tour de Wallonie-Picarde is a stage race cycling race held annually in Belgium and France. Since 2005, the race has been organized as a 2.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour- Winners :...
- 2nd E3 Prijs VlaanderenE3 Prijs VlaanderenThe E3 Harelbeke is an annual cycling race in the Flanders area of Belgium. The race starts and finishes in Harelbeke over 210 kilometres. The event is organised by the Hand in Hand Cycling Club of Harelbeke and is ranked 1.HC on the UCI Continental calendar....
- 2nd Paris–Tours
- 3rd Dwars door VlaanderenDwars door VlaanderenDwars door Vlaanderen is a Flanders Classics road bicycle race. Traditionally, it is the start of the Flemish cycling week, with Gent–Wevelgem , the Three Days of De Panne and the Ronde van Vlaanderen. Dwars door Vlaanderen has always been contested on a Wednesday, a week and a half before the...
2010
- 1st Stage 5 Tour of OmanTour of OmanThe Tour of Oman is a road bicycle race race held in Oman and is part of the UCI Asia Tour. The race is classified as a 2.1. The race is run by the A.S.O., and was held for the first time between 14 and 19 February 2010. The race is a men's competition consisting of six stages...
- 1st Stage 2 Tirreno–Adriatico2010 Tirreno–AdriaticoThe 2010 Tirreno–Adriatico was the 45th running of the Tirreno–Adriatico stage race. It started on 10 March and finished on 16 March. The race started in Livorno and ended San Benedetto del Tronto...
- 2nd Milan – San Remo2010 Milan – San RemoThe 2010 Milan – San Remo was the 101st running of the Milan – San Remo cycling race, held on March 20. The race was won by Oscar Freire of Spain in a bunch sprint finish.- Teams :...
- 2nd E3 Prijs VlaanderenE3 Prijs VlaanderenThe E3 Harelbeke is an annual cycling race in the Flanders area of Belgium. The race starts and finishes in Harelbeke over 210 kilometres. The event is organised by the Hand in Hand Cycling Club of Harelbeke and is ranked 1.HC on the UCI Continental calendar....
- 2nd Ronde van Vlaanderen
- 3rd Overall Tour of QatarTour of QatarThe Tour of Qatar is a road bicycle race race held in Qatar and is part of the UCI Asia Tour. The race consists of a men's competition over six stages...
- 1st Stage 3
- 1st Stage 5
- 5th Paris–Roubaix
2011
- 1st Stage 1 Tour of Qatar2011 Tour of QatarThe 2011 Tour of Qatar was the tenth edition of the Tour of Qatar cycling stage race. It was rated as a 2.1 event on the UCI Asia Tour, and was held from 6 February to 11 February 2011, in Qatar. The previous race was won by Wouter Mol of .-Teams:...
- 1st Gent–Wevelgem
- 4th Ronde van Vlaanderen2011 Tour of FlandersThe 2011 Tour of Flanders cycle race was the 95th edition of this monumental classic and took place on 3 April. The course was long and was held between Brugge and Ninove. The race was won by Nick Nuyens ahead of Sylvain Chavanel and Fabian Cancellara....