Talking to Belgian media, one of the most accomplished classics specialists of past decades – Johan Museeuw, insisted that Boonen remains sharp enough to win one of the biggest one-day races, but the internal rivalry in Etixx exposed in the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad finale unnecessarily increased the pressure. „If only for the macho behavior would have been better that Vandenbergh or Terpstra won the opening race,” - he said.

Even though Museeuw believes in Boonen's chances of adding yet another Ronde van Vlaanderen or Paris-Roubaix title to his already impressive palmares, he acknowledges that no one should expect him to dominate the classics in a way he did in the past. The very favourable combination of circumstances would be required this time, counting a pure luck as one of them.

“Yes [he can win a Classic], but he is not as strong, especially the explosive Boonen we knew the last ten years,” he told Het Nieuwsblad, according to Cycling Weekly.

While no one should be seriously worried by a lack of sharpness the Etixx-Quick Step captain revealed in the final kilometers of Omloop – peaking for the opening weekend events wouldn't be the wisest approach for any serious Paris-Roubaix contender, the former Belgian rider couldn't help noticing that there is a room for improvement in this department.

“The circumstances must be more lucky [now], but his condition is sufficient.”

Museeuw wisely pointed out, though, that not a condition of Etixx-Quick Step leaders but uneasy relations between them is what the team manager Patrick Lefevere should pay attention to at the moment.

“It is for Patrick Lefevere and Wilfried Peeters to keep the peace,” he continued. “After Omloop Het Nieuwsblad the barometer rose instead of fell. If only for the macho behavior would have been better that [Stijn] Vandenbergh or [Niki] Terpstra won the opening race.

“There is a question of whether to share a role as a leader, in return doubling your chances in the race. Victory at Het Nieuwsblad is not the big honour Boonen is looking for. He smells indeed the records [in the Classics], and he wants to go for them.”