Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) and Flanders, that fits together. The Fleming has already been on top of the podium three times in his home race, the Ronde van Vlaanderen. He wants to celebrate again this year in the destination Oudenaarde. In order for this to succeed, Boonen visited the new route of the Tour of Flanders with his teammates Zdenek Stybar, the newly crowned cyclocross world champion, and Iljo Keisse.
“It will certainly be exciting for the spectators, but it will also be a new experience for the riders ,” Boonen told Cyclingnews.com, adding that he seems particularly drawn to the redesigned finale. “I think it will be much more interesting than in previous editions.”
The organizers of the Tour of Flanders changed the route in 2012, removing the Muur van Geraardsbergen, among other climbs. As a result, the Oude Kwaremont and the Paterberg each had to be ridden three times.
After the route that was introduced two years ago was criticized several times, the organizers did everything they could to reconsider the course. "In the last lap you have less time to recover", said the Belgian, who had to sit out last year due to injury, "The new route should suit me better." Stybar also agreed, albeit noting that his goal is Paris-Roubaix and he is full of praise for his team, Omega Pharma-QuickStep: "I learn as much in this team in two years as in other teams in ten years."