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Boonen uncertain over Olympic fitness

By Cycling News

published 16 July 2012

Belgian suffered fractured rib in Tour of Poland crash

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Tom Boonen back at the Quickstep car for advice(Image credit: Tour de Pologne)

Belgian champion Tom Boonen leads the peloton(Image credit: Tour de Pologne)

Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-Quickstep) debuted his Belgian champion's jersey(Image credit: Tour de Pologne)

Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-Quickstep) celebrates his victory in the Belgian championships(Image credit: Photopress.be)

Boonen kicked for home solo some 52km out at Paris-Roubaix and held on comfortably(Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Having abandoned his key Olympic Games warm-up event the Tour of Poland, Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) has been diagnosed with a rib fracture.

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Boonen pulls out of Tour of Poland

The Belgian had new medical checks in the Herentals Clinic on Sunday.

Boonen crashed with around three kilometres left to race on Stage 1 of the Tour of Poland and continued several more days before abandoning.

It has now been confirmed that the 31-year-old is suffering from a fractured sixth rib on his right side. According to a team press release Boonen will now observe three days of rest before attempting to resume training on Thursday. A decision will then be made on wither the Belgian champion will race the Tour de la Region Wallone before the Olympic Games road race on July 28.

"There's nothing more to do than wait and see how the situation will evolve," said Boonen. "I'm sad because my condition is good and I really don't want to lose the chance to participate in the Olympics.

"On Thursday I will have the answer that I'm waiting for."

Boonen deliberately avoided racing both the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France, in the lead up to the Games, and recently admitted that it was also unlikely that he will ride the Vuelta a España prior to an attempt at a second world title to add to his 2005 crown.