Having opted for a new approach in 2016, with a season debut in Europe at the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana and Volta ao Algarve, Tom Boonen will return to a more traditional program next year as revealed by Het Laatste Nieuws. 

The Etixx-Quick Step rider who’ll retire at Paris-Roubaix will start his season at Tour of Qatar and Tour of Oman and so he will have his usual build-up to the opening weekend in Belgium.

Boonen is the king of the Tour of Qatar where he has taken four overall wins and 23 stage victories. The Belgian is much less prolific in Oman where he has only raised his arms once during his career.