Tom Boonen has already set off down the road to Roubaix, with his final season with Quick-Step Floors culminating with one last tilt at the Hell of the North and perhaps a fairytale record fifth victory.
The 36-year-old Belgian collected the first win of the final season at the Vuelta a San Juan on Tuesday, and the next day he sat down in his hotel with a group of journalists, including Cyclingnews, to talk about retirement, Paris-Roubaix, his career, and much more.
Question: Tom, you've already taken a victory and are clearly in good shape; how did you come to the decision to retire?
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Tom Boonen: It was the circumstances. I’ve been starting to do more stuff in the normal world than I used to, and planning my future a bit more. I’m 16 years a pro, I’ve been away a lot and I’m getting tired of that. It’s best to stop at a moment when you still like it, and you can still ride your bike with a bit of love. I could easily continue for another two years, maybe three even, but maybe it would be at a less high level. Now, if everything goes okay I can still compete at the highest level. It’s my dream is to stop on a high.
There’s always doubt especially when you’re riding well; you think: ‘there’s even more in the pot’ but there is a point you have to stop. It’s unavoidable; you have to stop sometime, so it’s better to stop at a decent level, rather than wait and wait and wait and try to get a little bit more out. I just feel it’s time.
Q: Was it a complicated process?
Completing his palmares with one last win at Paris-Roubaix
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