This is Tom Boonen in 2012 winning Paris-Roubaix for the 4th time. It gave him the title of joint Mr Paris-Roubaix with the other 4-time winner Roger De Vlaeminck, but equally Tom could be called Mr E3.
In 2012 he won this race of many names, starting in 1958 as Harelbeke-Antwerp-Harelbeke, and is now the E3 Saxo Classic, for a 4th time as well. The race has had 7 names, but for the longest time (32 years) it was the E3 Prijs, hence ‘Mr E3’.
It was Boonen’s first big win in 2004, the year he started winning big races. He made a fantastic debut at 21 finishing 3rd in Paris-Roubaix 2002, when he raced for US Postal. He transferred to Quick Step in 2003, but had injuries and illness to deal with, which is why 2004 and E3 Prijs are so important in Tom Boonen’s story.
It was his first big win, which he followed up a few days later with Ghent-Wevelgem, then he won two stages of the Tour de France. Tom Boonen had arrived, the following year he dominated and Belgium caught Boonen Mania.
Tom won E3 Prijs, Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix in 2005, a cobbled classic triple he repeated in 2012. In between there were periods of domination, angst and injury, but for 8 years he was the man to beat in the cobbled classics.
It made life difficult in Belgium because everyone wanted to meet him, get their photo taken and shake his hands. It was hard to find peace, so Tom moved to Monaco. He spent 5 years there, but love won him over. He loved Belgium, and his long-time girlfriend Lore, who he always calls his wife, loved her job working with young offenders in Belgium.
Boonen’s return to his native land in 2012 coincided with his greatest exploit: winning Ghent-Wevelgem, Tour of Flanders and Paris Roubaix in the same year. That equaled Rik Van Looy’s performance, and they are still the only 2 to do it. Tom Boonen is Mr Paris-Roubaix, Mr E3, Mr Triple, but above all Mr Respected.
There’s a long interview with Tom Boonen in our book about the best cobbled classics riders: Cycling Legends 04 Flandriens, cult heroes of the cobbles. Read more here
