Interview – Boonen, Terpstra & Stybar

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Paul Burgoine talks to Tom Boonen and Zdenek Stybar plus Niki Terpstra on Flanders at the Omega Pharma Quickstep press day in Belgium

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Interview – Boonen, Terpstra & Stybar

2014_Flanders_Quickstep_PressConf2

PB: Tom how do you feel coming into the race?
Tom Boonen… “Yeah, everybody knows the story of two weeks ago but at Gent Wevelgem, I was feeling better and having the right feelings both physically and mentally. I was pretty hungry to race and do well, it’s all good signs. Also, training on Wednesday I felt good so the worse days are behind me and I look forward to a good race on Sunday and do my best,”

PB: Do you feel capable of winning a fourth race?
TB “If I take the start, I have a chance of winning, maybe I am not a great favourite for Sunday, if it’s a good thing or a bad thing we will see. I don’t see winning a fourth Flanders as pressure, I find it relaxing knowing that I have already won a few times. I have done everything possible to be at the level that I am now. If I don’t win, it won’t be my fault. I have done everything possible so I think there will be a good battle and I have a few cards to play”

PB: What do you think of the parcour?
TB: “It doesn’t make the race any harder. I think it will be difficult to race before the final, sometimes having less climbs makes it more open and gives the race more possibilities. I think it’s hard to start racing 50k before the finish when there are so many difficult climbs there. So we will have to wait and see if riders will race.”

PB: Would it be acceptable to you for one of your team mates to win?
TB: “Always, it’s not only me racing, it’s the team that has to win, not just me”.

TomBoonen

PB: Do you think your team is strong and maybe Cannondale only have one card to play?
TB: “Yeah, but it’s a big card. I don’t think Peter will be affected by not having a big team. He just has to follow. For him tactic wise, he just has to stay with me and Fabian.”

PB: Do you think Sagans team is weak?
TB: “They are not weak at all. They have a very strong team, they maybe don’t have big names but it doesn’t matter if you have a team that will fight for each other.”

PB: Tom any preference for the weather?
TB: “No I think it will be good. It won’t be like San Remo but a few showers and I think we are expecting more wind.”

PB: Do you get the same sense of excitement coming into these races?
TB: “It gets worse knowing the races better and knowing it might be your second last race, but no tears. Winning another Flanders is the highest possible goal for all the training getting up early. Thats not so you can just win a race, it’s to win a big classic it’s as easy as that”

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Winning a classic is what drives Tom Boonen. Photo: Tim DeWaele

PB: How have the races changed?
TB: “It’s hard to compare because they changed the parcours. Only Roubaix has stayed the same which I think is a shame. They should keep them the same, they are classics”.

On the key point of the race:
The key point will be the same. For the main favorites I think they will wait for the Kwaremont/Paterberg, like last year. But, a lot of things are possible on this final because it’s so hard. I think a lot of people will be a little bit afraid to race on it. So a lot of things are possible and a breakaway between climbs is a very good possibility.

On his Specialized Roubaix
Your bike is the main contact point with the road, so the bike decides how fast you go. This edition of the race has more sections of cobblestones, so it will be important to have a strong, reliable bike like the Specialized Roubaix on this kind of parcours. Me and Zdenek ride with the Roubaix bike. It’s a decision we can make on our own, it’s not something Specialized puts us through. I think for this year the Specialized Roubaix will be the best bike for this race. I think this is the case especially because of, I think, the 30 kilometers of cobblestone sections in total. Plus, the bike saves you energy on the cobbles and these hard roads, so you will arrive at the finish line a little bit fresher.

On his chances at Ronde van Vlaanderen:
Given my circumstances the past two weeks I will be happy if I can arrive with the first group and I have a good sensation, and I still have next week at Paris-Roubaix. But, in my mind, I really want to win. But I never have stress. You get the sense that the race is approaching, but never stress. Of course, Ronde van Vlaanderen has become so important, there is a sort of heroism around it and everyone wants to win it.

Zdenek Stybar (World Cyclo-Cross Champion)
PB: Zdenek how do you feel coming into the race and does Flanders suit you more than Roubaix?
ZS: “Yeah, I look forward to it and I feel ready. Last year I had a great result in Roubaix but before and even now, I believe that Flanders is a better race for me but still I need to find out so we will see. My preperation has been pretty similar but I believe I am much stronger than at this period last season.”

On his readiness for Ronde van Vlaanderen and the Classics:
I have done everything I had to do. I haven’t had to cancel any training, I could just train really well all winter long, and I did all the races I wanted to do. Since Paris-Nice I think I have been in very good shape and now I hope my best shape is coming for Sunday and next weekend.

On the weather:
It can play a factor a little bit. It will be a bit windier than it has been this past week and there may be a bit of showers, which can make the climbs more difficult especially the Koppenberg. But, the weather forecast has changed a few times. So, we’ll wait and see.

On his favorite climb:
I really like the Koppenberg. I have very nice memories from Cyclocross. So that’s maybe why I have a closer relationship with this climb.

Niki Terpstra

On the pressure of the Spring Classics:
“After four years with this team I know there is a lot of risks at Belgian races coming in these weeks. Belgians go crazy for it, especially Ronde van Vlaanderen. The pressure is there. I love the culture of it and I love these spring races, especially how the team works toward this race and all the other races in Flanders. I just love it and that’s why I chose to race for this Belgian based team.

On the big day on Sunday:
The last weeks have gone really well for me. Even the last few days at Driedaagse De Panne I was in great shape. I am ready for Sunday. This makes me confident for sure, but also gives some pressure because I’d like to prove it isn’t just one day I am good, but I am good the whole spring. This is the biggest one, at Flanders. So, I want to take advantage of my good shape.

RIDER LIST
TREK FACTORY RACING
PL/DS DEMOL Dirk
1 CANCELLARA Fabian
2 DEVOLDER Stijn
3 IRIZAR ARANBURU Markel
4 POPOVYCH Yaroslav
5 RAST Grégory
6 ROULSTON Hayden
7 SERGENT Jesse
8 STUYVEN Jasper

CANNONDALE
PL/DS SCIREA Mario
11 SAGAN Peter
12 SABATINI Fabio
13 BODNAR Maciej
14 GATTO Oscar
15 KING Edward
16 KOREN Kristijan
17 LONGO BORGHINI Paolo
18 MARANGONI Alan

LOTTO BELISOL
PL/DS FRISON Herman
21 BOECKMANS Kris
22 BROECKX Stig
23 DEHAES Kenny
24 LIGTHART Pim
25 ROELANDTS Jurgen
26 BAK Lars Ytting
27 DEBUSSCHERE Jens
28 GALLOPIN Tony

OMEGA PHARMA – QUICK-STEP CYCLING TEAM
PL/DS PEETERS Wilfried
31 BOONEN Tom
32 KEISSE Iljo
33 MAES Nikolas
34 STYBAR Zdenek
35 TERPSTRA Niki
36 TRENTIN Matteo
37 VAN KEIRSBULCK Guillaume
38 VANDENBERGH Stijn

AG2R LA MONDIALE
PL/DS JURDIE Julien
41 APPOLLONIO Davide
42 BAGDONAS Gediminas
43 CHAINEL Steve
44 GAUDIN Damien
45 HOULE Hugo
46 MINARD Sébastien
47 MONDORY Lloyd
48 TURGOT Sébastien

ASTANA PRO TEAM
PL/DS ZANINI Stefano
51 BOZIC Borut
52 GAVAZZI Francesco
53 GRIVKO Andriy
54 GRUZDEV Dmitriy
55 GUARDINI Andrea
56 IGLINSKIY Valentin
57 KAMYSHEV Arman
58 MURAVYEV Dmitriy

BELKIN-PRO CYCLING TEAM
PL/DS BOVEN Jan
61 BOOM Lars
62 LEEZER Thomas
63 TANKINK Bram
64 TJALLINGII Maarten
65 VAN EMDEN Jos
66 VANMARCKE Sep
67 WAGNER Robert
68 WYNANTS Maarten

BMC RACING TEAM
PL/DS BALDATO Fabio
71 BURGHARDT Marcus
72 DILLIER Silvan
73 HUSHOVD Thor
74 LODEWYCK Klaas
75 PHINNEY Taylor
76 QUINZIATO Manuel
77 SCHÄR Michael
78 VAN AVERMAET Greg

FDJ.fr
PL/DS MADIOT Marc
81 BONNET William
82 BOUCHER David
83 DELAGE Mickael
84 DEMARE Arnaud
85 FISCHER Murilo Antonio
86 LADAGNOUS Matthieu
87 LE BON Johan
88 OFFREDO Yoann

GARMIN SHARP
PL/DS VAN BONDT Geert
91 BAUER Jack
92 FARRAR Tyler
93 KREDER Raymond
94 LANGEVELD Sebastian
95 MILLAR David
96 NUYENS Nick
97 VAN BAARLE Dylan
98 VANSUMMEREN Johan

LAMPRE-MERIDA
PL/DS MAINI Orlando
101 BONIFAZIO Niccolo
102 CIMOLAI Davide
103 FAVILLI Elia
104 MODOLO Sacha
105 PALINI Andrea
106 POZZATO Filippo
107 RICHEZE Maximiliano Ariel
108 WACKERMANN Luca

MOVISTAR TEAM
PL/DS JAIMERENA Jose Luis
111 AMADOR BAKKAZAKOVA Andrey
112 DOWSETT Alex
113 ERVITI OLLO Imanol
114 GUTIERREZ PALACIOS José Ivan
115 LOBATO DEL VALLE Juan Jose
116 QUINTANA ROJAS Dayer Uberney
117 SÃœTTERLIN Jasha
118 VENTOSO ALBERDI Francisco José

ORICA GreenEDGE
PL/DS LAPAGE Laurenzo
121 DOCKER Mitchell
122 DURBRIDGE Luke
123 HAYMAN Mathew
124 HEPBURN Michael
125 IMPEY Daryl
126 KEUKELEIRE Jens
127 MOURIS Jens
128 TUFT Svein

TEAM EUROPCAR
PL/DS ARNOULD Dominique
131 COUSIN Jerome
132 DUCHESNE Antoine
133 ENGOULVENT Jimmy
134 GENE Yohann
135 HUREL Tony
136 JEROME Vincent
137 MARTINEZ Yannick
138 PICHOT Alexandre

TEAM GIANT-SHIMANO
PL/DS REEF Marc
141 ARNDT Nikias
142 CURVERS Roy
143 DE KORT Koen
144 DEGENKOLB John
145 DEVENYNS Dries
146 JANSE VAN RENSBURG Reinardt
147 SINKELDAM Ramon
148 TIMMER Albert

TEAM KATUSHA
PL/DS MIKHAILOV Guennadi
151 GUSEV Vladimir
152 ISAICHEV Vladimir
153 KRISTOFF Alexander
154 KUCHYNSKI Aliaksandr
155 KUZNETSOV Viacheslav
156 PAOLINI Luca
157 SMUKULIS Gatis
158 TSATEVITCH Alexey

TEAM SKY
PL/DS KNAVEN Servaes
161 BOASSON HAGEN Edvald
162 EISEL Bernhard
163 KNEES Christian
164 PUCCIO Salvatore
165 RASCH Gabriel
166 ROWE Luke
167 THOMAS Geraint
168 WIGGINS Bradley

TINKOFF-SAXO
PL/DS DE JONGH Steven
171 BENNATI Daniele
172 BOARO Manuele
173 BRESCHEL Matti
174 JUUL JENSEN Christopher
175 KOLÁR Michal
176 KROON Karsten
177 SÖRENSEN Nicki
178 TRUSOV Nikolay

ANDRONI GIOCATTOLI – VENEZUELA
PL/DS ELLENA Giovanni
181 BANDIERA Marco
182 BERTAZZO Omar
183 FACCHINI Patrick
184 HOOGERLAND Johnny
185 PARRINELLO Antonio
186 RODRIGUEZ Jackson
187 TESTI Nicola
188 ZORDAN Andrea

COFIDIS, SOLUTIONS CREDITS
PL/DS DELOEUIL Alain
191 CAMMAERTS Edwig
192 FOUCHARD Julien
193 GARCIA ECHEGUIBEL Egoitz
194 JOEAAR Gert
195 LEMOINE Cyril
196 PETIT Adrien
197 SENECHAL Florian
198 ZINGLE Romain

IAM CYCLING
PL/DS SEIGNEUR Eddy
201 CHAVANEL Sylvain
202 ELMIGER Martin
203 HAUSSLER Heinrich
204 HINAULT Sébastien
205 KLEMME Dominic
206 KLUGE Roger
207 PINEAU Jérôme
208 SARAMOTINS Aleksejs

MTN – QHUBEKA
PL/DS ZEMKE Jens
211 CIOLEK Gerald
212 GERDEMANN Linus
213 KONOVALOVAS Ignatas
214 REIMER Martin
215 SBARAGLI Kristian
216 STAUFF Andreas
217 THOMSON Jay Robert
218 VENTER Jaco

TEAM NETAPP – ENDURA
PL/DS POITSCHKE Enrico
221 BARTA Jan
222 BENNETT Sam
223 DEMPSTER Zakkari
224 JARC Blaz
225 MATZKA Ralf
226 SCHILLINGER Andreas
227 SCHWARZMANN Michael
228 THWAITES Scott

TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN – BALOISE
PL/DS PLANCKAERT Walter
231 DECLERCQ Tim
232 LAMPAERT Yves
233 THEUNS Edward
234 VAN ASBROECK Tom
235 VAN HECKE Preben
236 VANBILSEN Kenneth
237 WAEYTENS Zico
238 WALLAYS Jelle

WANTY – GROUPE GOBERT
PL/DS VAN DER SCHUEREN Hilaire
241 DE VREESE Laurens
242 DRUCKER Jean-Pierre
243 GHYSELINCK Jan
244 KREDER Wesley
245 LEUKEMANS Bjorn
246 SELVAGGI Mirko
247 VANLANDSCHOOT James
248 VEUCHELEN Frederik

 


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