Boonen eases up for Tour de France...

[superman2007]

Posted on 05 July 2007 - 19:46

 

http://images.supersport.co.za/BoonenTom070705PotraitRbg.jpgSprinter Tom Boonen has eased up on his Tour de France preparations after putting his indifferent form in last year's race down to too much work. Boonen was one of the favourites for the special sprinters' green jersey a year ago but, although he briefly led the overall standings, the 2005 world champion failed to win a stage and abandoned the race with stomach problems. "I was in good shape before the Tour, I worked too hard that was the only problem," the Belgian told a news conference on Thursday. "I did too much work in the mountains and because I did so much work, the sprints went a little bit down. It cost me one, two, three percent in the sprints and that's the difference between winning or losing," said the 26-year-old Quickstep rider. "I think I was more sure of myself last year but it didn't work out so good. This year my legs are not 100 percent but it's always in these kind of situations I get my best victories," added Boonen, who has not had a major win this season. The Belgian has won four stages on the Tour but said he had a love-hate relationship with the world's most famous cycling race. "I like the Tour and I dislike it a little bit because it's so hard. It's very much a way of getting to know yourself." Boonen is again one of the contenders for the green jersey and will not have to face Italian Alessandro Petacchi, who is out of the Tour after his non-negative doping test at this year's Giro d'Italia. "It won't make the sprints harder or less hard, it just means one sprinter less to compete with," Boonen said of his rival's absence.

[Tumbleweed]

eish, supes, you been boning up on your tdf news this morn?

[Dicky DQ]

I like the "Non - Negative" test results, what does this mean??

[Poison Ivy]

I like the "Non - Negative" test results' date=' what does this mean??

[/quote']

 

Its just a f?ncy term for:  guilty