Everyone remembers Tom Boonen, known in Belgium by the nickname Tommeke, little Tom, and famous for being one of the most successful riders in the pavé Classics. Boonen, an emblematic figure in world cycling, a multiple winner of classics and an icon of the pavé, marked an entire generation with his power and skill, winning 4 Paris-Roubaix (2005, 2008, 2009, 2012) and three Tours of Flanders (2005, 2006, 2012), not to mention the World Championship title won in 2005 in Madrid and bronze in Doha in 2016. The rider from Mol hung up his bike in 2017, bidding farewell to his fans at Paris-Roubaix, a classic he raced 14 times in his career. Today he is an appreciated technical commentator and analyst for Belgian television and just last night he took stock of what could happen in the upcoming races.

Although the cycling season has already started, it is the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad that officially marks the beginning of the spring season in Belgium, signaling the start of a long series of semi-classics.

Boonen achieved 122 victories in his career and knows all the classics, particularly those of spring. The Flemish rider rarely cycles now, but hasn't forgotten his passion for speed and difficult terrain, and today he is a rally driver.

«I like rally racing. I experience similar sensations to cycling: concentration, sense of trajectory and speed. Although my record on a bike was set at 128 km/h during the Tour of California – the Belgian recounted with amusement – I bought and tuned a new car, a BMW 325i E30. Last year I won at Lubbeek».

During Wielerclub Wattage, Boonen opens up and says he trains little outdoors; when it rains and is cold he tends to leave his bike in the garage, but his training continues in the gym. Recently, the possibility of joining Soudal-Quick Step, the team he raced for during his career, has also emerged, where today he could be an important reference for the Classics.

«I participated in two team building sessions for the squad. Everything has changed and it has become much younger. The staff too. I think I can contribute with my experience, especially in the Classics. With Paul Magnier they have an important rider and I really like him. Sports director? No, now I enjoy my quiet life. I don't want to leave for the grand tours and be away from home for three weeks».

Boonen's last victory at the Roubaix Velodrome was in 2012. Four years later, he came close to breaking the all-time record of 122 victories to his name, while Tadej Pogacar has 108.

«I am proud of what I did, but the day I stopped cycling in 2017, I turned the page. I didn't suffer from post-retirement depression because I had everything clear in my mind. From the age of 12 I knew what I wanted to do in life. At 37 I was in the prime of my career and a new life was beginning. During the first three months of retirement, I enjoyed my new status and gained seven kilos. I resumed physical activities like cycling, fitness and found a balance. Looking back on my career, I achieved all my goals».

Boonen keeps a close eye on current riders and, like all Belgians, watches with particular attention Remco Evenepoel, who this year races for Bora-Hansgrohe and who one day dreams of competing in the Tour of Flanders.

«I think he could win the Ronde one day. He doesn't like the pavé? With the new bikes and wider tires, the sensation is different. Since I retired in 2017, bikes have evolved significantly. I was the first rider to win races with disc brakes. I used to race with 28 mm tires; now they are 36 mm. In my opinion, Remco needs to stop telling himself that he's not made for the pavé. Tactics? What tactics? He's capable of attacking 60 kilometers from the finish. Now he'll just have to shake off Tadej Pogacar and Matthieu van der Poel».

The Slovenian champion seems to have no rivals and Boonen too is convinced that he is currently the strongest on every terrain, but at the same time, he thinks that Van der Poel has something extra on the classics.

«Certainly Pogacar impressed me in his first Hell of the North, but I'm also convinced that Mathieu remains slightly superior in this type of race. When they're both at 100%, Mathieu is capable of making him commit a small mistake, like last year».

Returning to Quick Step, Boonen never changed teams during his career and even today thinks he made the best choice.

«That was my family: Patrick (Lefevere), Yvan (Van Mol), Fitte (Peeters). I had received two or three offers, including T-Mobile, where I could have earned 40% more, but I didn't want to change. For Remco, it was probably the right time to do so. Everyone likes to work in a calm environment focused on teamwork and in the last two years it hasn't always been that way. At this point in his career, Remco needs a clear framework and a leader who makes decisions, you can't let him do whatever he wants».

Evenepoel has already won a lot and in time trials he is practically unbeatable. The Belgian, however, is obsessed with the Tour de France and every day tries to improve to achieve victory in the Grand Boucle.

«I was obsessed with the Classics. Remco when he started winning climbing races as a junior set himself that goal. In a career, you need this to progress. Will he win the Tour? Yes. Probably when he has favorable circumstances. Tadej Pogacar has already had less brilliant editions and so it's possible that Remco could take advantage when he gets the chance».

Remco appeals to Boonen, but Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogacar today have something extra.

«Tadej is a machine. A rider like you see only once every 50 years. He can do everything. And he wants to win everything. I'm convinced he'll be in the finale at Paris-Roubaix again this year. The way he attacks the pavé is impressive for a "non-specialist". Although I remain 100% convinced that van der Poel is still superior».

For the Flemish rider, Van der Poel is a truly special rider, with characteristics that no one else has at the moment. «For me he represents the quintessence of the modern rider. A bit of a wildcard, beautiful to watch and powerful. Perhaps the one he most resembles in the current group. Although he has cyclocross in his palmares as well».

Tom Boonen was a specialist in the Classics but did not neglect the Grand Boucle: in six participations in the Tour de France, he won six stages and one green jersey. For this reason some see analogies with Paul Magnier.

«It's not wrong to think that. There are similarities. I followed him last season. He has already changed a lot in just one year, he's put on muscle, he's become more defined, he's become a true athlete. The first two seasons are crucial for a rider's growth. He's capable of racing with van der Poel and Pogacar in the Classics, but really winning? I always joke with young riders: the important thing is not to win a lot, but to give the impression that you can win. That's what makes a career lasting».

A comment on Wout van Aert couldn't be missing. «I love Wout. He's generous, with a strong mentality, capable of bouncing back from misfortune. He was labeled too quickly and unfairly. When he turned professional, the newspapers immediately wrote that he would win Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders. He also proved at the Tour de France that he has great potential. He has a valuable engine and proved it at Mont Ventoux in 2021, then two time trials in 2021 at Saint-Émilion and in 2022 at Rocamadour. He's less explosive than Matthieu van der Poel, but he's more complete. For me he was the absolute winner at the Tour de France in 2022, when he launched Vingegaard on the Hautacam climb, that's not an achievement for everyone. But in ten years, everyone will have forgotten that role. On the other hand, winning Flanders or Paris-Roubaix is another thing».