Belgian Championships and Tour de France up next
Outgoing Belgian national champion, Tom Boonen, is feeling better and better about his form as the Tour de Suisse moves toward its end in tomorrow’s time trial in Liestal, Switzerland.
The three-time Paris-Roubaix champion is happy to report that his form is “better than expected.”
For Boonen, the final time trial stage in Liestal will be but a formality as he marches toward the Belgian Championships in one week’s time and then the Grand Depart in Rotterdam one week later.
“I cannot complain. I’ll finish the Tour of Switzerland, and I will rest as much as possible ahead of the Belgian Championships.”
Boonen is now quick to admit his lack of condition before he started the Tour de Suisse a week ago. The topic of the Belgian champion’s knee seemed to be a subplot, but as the days have advanced, its apparent how much of a concern the knee was to Boonen.
“After my crash in California, I started here in Switzerland, but with little heart and only reasonable form. The day in the mountains on Thursday was encouraging. The negative, however, has been the rain everyday. It is colder than usual during this part of the season.”
Though the weather has not cooperated, the passing days have been kind to Boonen’s knee and form.
“I still feel my left knee, but I’m not complaining. Next Wednesday, I will start at Halle-Ingooigem to see how I’ve recovered.”
After that, Boonen will have a few more days of recovery before he takes to the line to defend his Belgian National Championship one week before the start of the Tour de France.
Boonen will have a difficult time defending in 2010, as this year’s course seems tailor-made for Belgium’s other superstar, Philippe Gilbert.