No Tour of Belgium for Boonen

by Susan Westemeyer

Tom Boonen has announced his racing schedule leading up to the Tour de France, and he won't be riding the Tour of Belgium.

"In order to prepare himself optimally" for the Tour, Boonen will start with the Volta a Catalunya, May 21 to 27. According to his website, tomboonen.tk, he may then ride a kermese race in Gullegem on June 5, before probably going to the Dauphiné Libéré, from June 10 to 17.

His last race before leaving for London and the Tour would be the Belgian national championships.

This schedule does not leave him time for his homeland tour in Belgian.