Tom Boonen has told reporters at the start of the Tour of Turkey that he wants to return to the Spring Classics next year as strong as ever. He says he has missed the races, and many fans argue the races have missed the record three-time Flanders and four-time Roubaix winner.

“[I miss the cobbles] a lot,” said Boonen. “Watching the races on the TV, especially the first races, was very painful but after a while I was at peace with my situation and tried to get back as soon as possible.”

After missing the Classics with his injury, he made a successful return at the Tour of Turkey and spoke to the media about his first ever participation at the Giro d’Italia.

“My main role will be to guide [Rigoberto Urán] in the first two weeks,” said Boonen. “Of course if there is any chance of riding a good sprint I will try to do that.”

“I’m looking forward to going there. … I haven’t raced there a lot but I like Italy, especially with the start in San Remo, as I have a few good friends there and it’s going to be a nice experience.”

As for a stint in the race’s pink jersey as overall race leader? Boonen said he’d love to take it but isn’t sure if he will be able too.

“That’s a little bit of the heritage of the team to do well in the team time trial,” he said. “But we will see, I don’t know.

 Pink has to follow automatically if you do well in the team time trial and you have a little bit of luck in the first or second stage, but it’s not an objective to try and take it.”

He says that his big goal this year comes in September at the Worlds in Richmond, where it will be a decade since he took his only Rainbow Jersey, in Madrid 2005.

“The first objective now is to prepare well for the nationals and do the Giro,” said the two-time national champion. “The second part is to prepare well for the worlds, and I think we found a course that is really good for the Belgian team.”

But he sees the bigger picture, and he says while he has achieved everything he can in the sport, he wants one more attempt at leading Etixx-QuickStep in the Classics as a fully fit rider in his prime.

“I’ve already achieved everything,” he said. “I’d like to have one more shot at the classics with no bad luck. If you look back at the last three seasons I’ve had almost everything you can dream of … it’s not been easy, but I’ve been able to cope with it and get back on a decent level every time.”

“My only wish is to start at the classics with my normal condition and fight for a win – just be able to do it one more time as I wish to.”