The late Milano-Sanremo route alterations combined with Tom Boonen splendid disposition right from the beginning of the 2014 season saw him among the favorites to take the spoils in the first monument of cycling season. However, as we have informed on Wednesday, the Belgian classics specialist was forced to withdraw from the event due to personal reasons and with a full support from Omega Pharma-Quick Step manager, after a few days off, he is expected to make up for the lost kilometers in the Dwars door Vlaanderen.

The late withdrawal of the in-form Boonen certainly is a huge blow to Omega Pharma-Quick Step, as he was expected to lead the formidable squad next Sunday. Even though it was slightly questioned how those two riders would cooperate as co-captains in the race that both have red circled as one of season’s objectives, it still left more possibilities opened for the Belgian team.

Omega Pharma-Quick Step manager Patrick Lefevere admits that Boonen’s experience and leading abilities would be hugely missed on the historical parcours of La Classicissima, but he has showed understanding in respect to circumstances in which the final decision was made.

“This Milan-San Remo we miss not only the charisma of the man Tom Boonen, but also his leadership. Tom is our steering wheel. He is the man who can make decisions during the race and take responsibility for the whole team,” Lefevere said to Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad.

“Not to participate in Milan-San Remo was a joint decision and also backed up by the sponsors."

“In normal circumstances, for such an event, there is a day’s family leave, but with an athlete the rule does not apply. To achieve top performance the legs and body follow the head. To force him is useless."

It turned out that the team was on an ongoing basis with the situation in Boonen’s family and they were aware fairly early about the possibility of the Belgian staying home to support his partner following the miscarriage.

"The problems with Lore’s pregnancy began Tuesday. First was the contact through sports director Wilfried Peeters, who gave me the updates. Given the seriousness of the event I left Boonen alone for 24 hours. Wednesday afternoon I had a telephone conversation,” explained Lefevere.

As a consequence of recent painful events, Boonen has taken a few days off the bike but Lefevere counts on his professional approach to work as his next major objectives of 2014 season are coming.

“He promised me again to turn to the classics from Saturday. I do not know exactly how he spent the last few days, but I am quite sure that a top rider like him knows at that age what to do.”

The Belgian classics specialist very likely will participate in Dwars door Vlaanderen next Wednesday, as the team considers it a better way to make up for the skipped tough racing in the Milano-Sanremo than clocking more kilometers during training rides.