News
Cyclo-cross

Lars Boom suffers through Zolder World Cup

By Cycling News

published 26 December 2015

Astana rider narrowly avoids being lapped

Comments

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Image 1 of 3

Lars Boom (Astana) suffered in his first 'cross race of the year(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)

Lars Boom (Astana) was last on the lead lap(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)

Lars Boom (Astana)(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)

Former cyclo-cross world champion Lars Boom showed little of his former prowess on the dirt in his first appearance of the season at the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup in Zolder on Saturday.

News shorts: Boom adds to 'cross calendar

News shorts: Boom eyeing 'cross Worlds, Bonnet back on the bike

Boom was poorly positioned due to a lack of UCI points at the start, and did not manage to move up. He finished last on the lead lap, 7:15 behind race winner Mathieu van der Poel.

"What a day. I was suffering from start to finish," Boom said on Twitter. "My body is not used to this anymore. I need to work hard and rest hard [in the] upcoming weeks."

Boom plans to race the World Championships on the same circuit in January. He said after the race that his back was hurting. "It is a problem that only now rears its head during the race itself," he said according to Sporza.

"It's not abnormal. It's my first 'cross race, a technical course, up and down, it was so fast. You might work out in the field, but that is not the same as in a race."

Boom still needs to earn the selection to the Dutch squad for the World Championships, but said earlier this month that he had altered his return flight from Tour Down Under, where he will race with his Astana team, to make it back in time to race on January 31.