Publications
Partners
Brugge - Belgium's Tom Boonen will saddle up for the 93rd Tour of Flanders one-day classic on Sunday, knowing his wheel is one of only a few the victory contenders will be looking to follow in the crucial moments.
The 'Ronde' - as cycling-mad Belgians from the Flemish-speaking part of the country like to believe - is one of the maddest, hardest, and most prestigious one-day races in the world.
Most of the peloton, and the five or six real contenders - including Boonen, Filippo Pozzato, Philippe Gilbert, Heinrich Haussler, Sylvain Chavanel and Juan Antonio Flecha - would likely agree.
Columbia team manager Allan Peiper has been trying to lay the pre-race foundations for his big hope, American George Hincapie, by labelling the 261.5km race the "most open in years".
Climbs pepper second half
Given the absence of 2007 winner Alessandro Ballan of Italy, it may be the case, but Boonen's past results, and the backdrop to his entire season, means he is the man to watch if he is still in contention in the final 50km.
A two-time winner, in 2005 and 2006, Boonen knows the race well, including most of the 16 climbs which pepper the second half.
Although upstaged by Quick Step team-mate Devolder last year, some observers suspected a plan to put Devolder into a winning position had been given Boonen's tacit agreement prior to the race.
But in the wake of his positive test for cocaine last year, which sullied his reputation, Boonen has vowed to show fans his old, winning self.
'Never attacks'
He started the season by dominating the Tour of Qatar, but recently he was given notice by his former team-mate Pozzato, who beat him into third place when he won the E3 Harelbeke one-dayer, that he will be a contender at the Ronde.
Pozzato followed up by winning a stage in the Trois Jours de la Panne.
Boonen acknowledged the Italian's current form but questioned whether Pozzato actually has the tactical cunning needed to win.
"He has a lot of talent, but he never takes the initiative to decide a race," Boonen said.
"He is always there, but he never attacks. I think that's how it's possible to beat him. He always has the legs, but not the head to say, 'OK, this is the moment.'
That task will be made tougher by the race's 16 'hellingen' - the Flemish word for short, sharp climbs - some of which are cobbled. Some of the Koppenberg's sections are a stinging 22-percent gradient.
'Form of his life'
Team-mates who are in form will be crucial. That means Boonen will also be keeping a close eye on former three-time runner-up Leif Hoste, Gilbert and Greg Van Avermaet - three compatriots who all race with Silence-Lotto.
Given the number of times he has come close to winning a major one-day race, American Hincapie could be classed as the 'nearly man of the spring classics'.
He finished third here in 2006 - his best result so far - but is said to be in the "form of his life".
"He did a great Milan-San Remo where he did a load of work for Cav (winner and team-mate Mark Cavendish) in the final section of the race, and he is having a really good Spring overall," said team manager Peiper.
If he wins Boonen, the Belgian bookmakers' big favourite, will become only the fifth rider to have won the Ronde three times.
