Boonen and Gilbert Lead Belgium’s Worlds Charge
BRUSSELS, Sept 12, 2008 (AFP) - Former world champion Tom Boonen and Philippe Gilbert will spearhead Belgium’s bid for the world road race championships’ rainbow jersey later this month.
Both riders are among a strong nine-man team, announced by the Belgian cycling league (RLVB) Friday, which also includes tyro Greg Van Avermaet and Tour of Flanders champion Stijn Devolder.
Boonen is one of several top riders hoping to come out top on the road race course at Varese, Italy on September 28 - and will likely have extra motivation.
The winner of the tough Paris-Roubaix one-day classic, for a second time, in April, Boonen was then dropped in disgrace from Quick Step’s Tour de France team after he tested positive for cocaine in May.
Since then, 2005 world champion Boonen appears to have knuckled down, winning a stage at the ongoing Tour of Spain.
However it remains to be seen if he is better suited to the Varese course, which features two climbs that will be raced a total of 15 times each, than the more versatile Gilbert.
“Gilbert and Boonen will both have the status of ‘protected’ riders for our team, even though we don’t have a de facto leader,” said Laurent De Backer, the RLVB president.
“It will all depend on who has the better legs on the day.”
Team
Mario Aerts, Tom Boonen, Stijn Devolder, Kevin De Weert, Philippe Gilbert, Maxime Monfort, Nick Nuyens, Greg Van Avermaet and Jurgen Van Goolen
Replacements: Dominique Cornu, Bert Dewaele, Jurgen Van den Broeck, Johan Vansummeren, Maarten Wijnants
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