Belgium’s best back in action

Tom Boonen’s 2013 was a shadow of the Belgian’s former accomplishments, and it is only natural that he wants to remedy his disappointing results.

"I started training eleven weeks ago," Boonen told Sporza. " I started off with working in the gym to improve stamina and did core stability exercises. Now I am back on the bike but it's important not be in shape too early."

In 2013 Boonen missed out on much of the early season due to injuries. These kept him out of race such as the Tour de San Luis and the Tour of Qatar; the ladder a race he has won four times.

Boonen’s bad luck continued in the classic’s season, where he crashed in the Gent-Wevelgem, and had to abandon. Much the same happened during the Tour of Flanders, and in fact Boonen just managed a sole win during 2013; namely at the Tour de Wallonie. Hardly sufficient for one of the peloton’s most successful riders.

Fit for fight, Boonen now aims at a good early start, which should hopefully translate into an effective 2014 season.

"The Tour de San Luis is the perfect way to start the season, also because of the climate. After that I'll fly on to Oman and Qatar so that is one an a half months of good weather. That's an advantage towards the guy who stay in Europe," Boonen said to Sporza.

"The race programme consists of Omloop het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne, if I make the team of course," he joked. "Those races are a must for every Belgian rider. It's more or less a habit and I am much looking forward to riding against Fabian Cancellara, Peter Sagan and the other strong riders."

Boonen also reiterated his wish to do well at the Tour de France.

"I did miss that race this year. When I saw our team miss out on victory in the team time trial by only a few tenths of seconds, I felt bad. There is no team time trial in next year's Tour but I do feel I have a place in the team. Now we have Cavendish on board to work for, the Belgian media won't be scrutinizing me. There is always pressure in the Tour de France but it's not the hardest of the Grand Tours."

Hopefully we will see Belgium’s best classic’s rider back in action in 2014, and in the midst of the best. After all, who does not want to see the Boonen-Cancellara-Sagan duel in as many races as possible?