The Tour de France was my biggest success this year, although that is
not my favourite race," Tom Boonen of Quick.Step-Innergetic has said
in looking back at his 2007 season.
In an interview with Sporza, he said that even though he won the
Tour's green sprinter's jersey, "I had great difficulty finding my
motivation again after the Tour. The Tour de France is a strange small
beast that devours much energy. I barely touched my bike for days on
end."
He vigorously rebuts claims that he is not a "real sprinter."
"Nonsense!" he said, noting that he has beaten "the Freires and
Petacchis". He added that "people want to put you in a box. I have won
both Classics and sprints, and the people don't know how to classify
me."
"I don't want to give up sprinting," the 26 year-old said. "I still
enjoy it and my sprint is just now beginning to get good." He noted
that "A good sprint preparation is actually of more value to me than
the win itself. My second stage win in the Tour this year was a
perfect example. But there is still a lot to improve."
He has had his difficulties this season, he noted. "I have fallen a
lot this year, but luckily was never seriously injured. Some riders
crash 15 times a year. If I fall and hurt my little finger, it's in
the newspapers."