“Winning is everything, this is why I still do this,” Boonen said after his victory on stage 3 of the Eneco Tour
Eneco Tour – Win for Boonen on Stage 3
Etixx – Quick-Step rider Tom Boonen said, after Tuesday’s 2nd Stage of Eneco Tour, that a bunch sprint comes down to being in the right position in the right moment. He was both on Wednesday, as his leadout brought him to the front with about 2.5km remaining, which put the team in command through the key technical sections before the finishing straight.
Photo: Etixx – Quick-Step/Tim De Waele
Furthermore, despite some chaos in the last kilometer, the Belgian rider waited patiently as other sprinters launched early for the line. Boonen accelerated in the last meters to pass Arnaud Demare (FDJ.fr) and win the stage, which was the 40th of the road season for Etixx – Quick-Step. Elia Viviani (Team Sky) was 3rd. Boonen now has 135 road victories in his career, including at least one victory every year since his first win in the 2002 season.
The race came back together with 20.5km to go. A final attack by Nathan Haas (Cannondale-Garmin) was neutralized soon after. The leadout trains battled for position in the ensuing kilometers, but it was Etixx – Quick-Step who waited until the right moment to gain control of the peloton before the group arrival.
Etixx – Quick-Step looks next to Stage 4, a 13.9km ITT in Hoogerheide, on Thursday. The time trial could be crucial for the GC contenders of the race.
“Winning is everything, this is why I still do this,” Boonen said. “The past week I’ve worked hard in the sprint, to try and win a stage here. You can tell I’m really happy with this win after three consecutive bunch arrivals. Three times really is a charm!”
“The past two days were okay, but always a little too early. Today actually didn’t go perfectly either in the last kilometer. Demare and I touched wheels, but I remained upright. I stuck with it, launched in the last meters and won the stage. I know I don’t have a lot of results this year after my crash at Paris-Nice. That’s why I really wanted to train again for my sprints, to see what I could salvage out of the last part of my season”.
“Also, in the next races before the UCI World Championship, it’s only about sprinting for myself. So, this one gave me some important confidence in that area. I still want to do well on Friday and Sunday. Let’s hope we can get more good results in the next days.”
Send your results as well as club, team & event news here
Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)
- Features, Reports, Results
- Chris Lawless Joins Saint Piran Team
- Youth Result: Milton Keynes Youth Development Races
- TT Result: Southern Counties CU Sporting 21
- TT Result: Manchester & District TTA 10m TT
- TT Result: Northampton & District CA 10m TT
- TT Result: Knockhill Mountain Time Trial
- Youth Result: Lawford Youth Series
- TT Result: Bristol South CC Hardriders
- TT Result: Newmarket Cycling & Triathlon Club TT
- Paracycling Track Worlds Day 4
- Para CyclingWorlds Final Day
- Startlist: National Youth Circuit Series Rd 1
- TT Result: Orwell Velo 15m TT
- TT Result: Hull Thursday RC Hard Riders 2Up
- TT Result: VC Sevale 10m TT
- TT Result: Maldon & District CC Hilly 22m TT
- Youth Result: SCC Youth Races
- Youth Result: ERC Ben Forsyth CRY Youth Race Day
- Report/Result: Azets Spring Classic
- Track Result: Manchester Regional Track League
- Startlists: RCR Fat Creations Road Races
- Crit Result: Not the Portsmouth Easter Circuits
- Crit Result: March Hare Classic
- Crit Result: Haus RT – Darley Moor #3
- Crit Results: Spring MK Bowl Series #3
- Crit Result: No Nonsense Circuit Races 1
- Crit Result: Salt Ayre Spring Series #3
- RR Result: NCRA Handicap RR #3
- RR Result: Halesowen Academy Road Race
- RR Result: Primavera Pursuit Road Race
- Startlist: Capernwray Road Race (March 31)
- TT Result: VTTA Kent 8 mile TT
- TT Result: Kernow Racing Team TT
- TT Result: Banbury Star CC 21m TT
- TT Result: Velo Club St Raphael 16.5 TT
- TT Result: Port Talbot Whs 13m TT
- TT Result: Cleveland Whs Sporting 21.7m TT
- TT Result: Velotik RT 15m TT
- TT Result: Border City Whs Hilly 20.2m TT
- TT Result: Hemel Hempstead CC 16m TT
Other News on VeloUK
- Chris Lawless Joins Saint Piran Team
- Paracycling Track Worlds Day 4
- Para CyclingWorlds Final Day
- Startlist: National Youth Circuit Series Rd 1
- Report/Result: Azets Spring Classic
- Startlists: RCR Fat Creations Road Races
- Startlist: Capernwray Road Race (March 31)
- Team Report: Fensham Howes MAS Design Junior Team
- Team Report: CiCLE Classic Junior Men
- RIDER REPORTS – Zoe Parker (Solihull CC)
- GB News: Two World Titles for GB at Para Worlds
- Team News: Alba Development Road Team
- News: British Road Champs Return to NE
- THIS WEEKEND: Peaks Two Day is Back!
- News: Laura Kenny Retires
- Team News: Lee Valley Youth Cycling Team
- 2024/25 CYCLO-CROSS CALENDAR
- Startlist: Cardiff Ajax CC 10 Mile TT
- Startlists: 16th Gifford Road Races (Scotland)
- News: Ellingworth is new Tour of Britain Director
- Startlist: Circuit of Ingleborough TT
- STARTLIST: Evesham Vale Road Race 2024
- Mammoth fields for Women’s/Junior Men’s CiCLE Classics
- Saturday: Fusion Media Women’s Series Rd 1
- Saint Piran’s Global Women’s Project
- Ribble Rebellion: The Riders
- Team News: Ribble Rebellion Team Launch
- British Classics – 64th Wally Gimber Trophy
- Startlist: 62nd Eddie Soens
- Startlist: 10th Junior Men’s CiCLE Classic (March 17)
- Startlist: 8th Women’s CiCLE Classic (March 17)
- Startlist: 40th Jock Wadley Memorial RR
- Riders: Azets Spring Classic (March 24)
- Bike News: DJ Spoony’s Special & unique Ribble Ultra SL R
- GB Team News: Helen Scott now Men’s Sprint Podium Potential Coach
- Startlist: Royal Navy Cup 2024
- News: Halesowen Academy 2024
- Report: Day 3 British Track Championships
- New Women’s Series in the Midlands
- News: RideLondon Classique