I still get goose bumps when I think back to Roubaix 2012

Zdenek Bakala's tribute to Tom Boonen, a sports legend, in Quick-Step Floors Magazine (June 3, 2013). About six years ago Zdenek Bakala became owner of the former Quick-Step Floors cycling team. “Ever since we first met I immediately noticed that Tom Boonen wasn’t just a funny rockstar on two wheels.” Bakala starts happily telling about Tom Boonen, who he thinks very highly of as a champion and as a human as well. “When I first met Tom Boonen on our team presentation for the 2012 season I only knew him from television and written media. I already knew he was a colorful character in many ways and extremely sociable. My suspicion was confirmed the moment I met him for the first time in real life, but regardless of his high level of rock-’n-roll as a cyclist and public figure I also immediately noticed his tremendous dedication and a one hundred percent professional mindset. I immediately noticed he wasn’t just a funny rockstar on two wheels. That combination of an engaging personality and a thoroughbred top athlete almost blew me away.” OCCURING AND THOUGHTFUL Bakala don’t have to think long about what makes Tom Boonen so special. “Of course you got Tom Boonen, the superstar, the world champion, the idol. But I clearly remember we went out for lunch one day. Just the two of us. That day we talked about life and about what his ultimate ambitions still were, but of course also about his interests aside cycling etcetera. Gradually it became a very open and personal conversation. For me personally it was such a fascinating experience to spend two to three hours together with Tom in this way. In a private setting like this he is different than the public figure who everyone believes to know; occur- ring and thoughtful. Eviscerated of all the fireworks – victories, disappointments, expectations, success etcetera – around his person. Of course he is and stays a superstar in a very popular sport in a small country. In my opinion that’s a perfect breeding ground to make someone an influential person who reaches much further than the dimension of his sport. The people are following him for so long... They saw Tom winning, they saw Tom losing, they saw Tom getting in nasty situations, they saw Tom fighting back again and again. People will never forget such an ‘intimate’ relation with a star like Tom Boonen.” HEARTACHE “If I have to choose one moment from his extensive record of achievements, I choose for Paris-Roubaix 2012 without any hesitation”, Bakala continues enthusiastically. “His fourth victory whereby he equaled the record of Mister Paris-Roubaix Roger de Vlaeminck. Our team made the race hard from the start. On the cobbled section of Orchies, after 200 kilometers of racing, Tom attacked in a magnificent way. The way he found the power to ride completely on his own for that long in such a hard race until he reached the finish, was frankly impressive. Look, I still get goose bumps! For sure that was by far the most unbelievable victory that I experienced with him. Tom on his bike and me nail biting in my couch of course. (Laughs) On the other hand I never had more heartache in my life – in terms of sport of course – than when Tom finished second in Paris-Roubaix 2016. To become the only record holder with five victories in the Hell of the North is almost the highest possible to achieve for a cyclist. Five of those leaden cobbles on your mantelpiece or sideboard? According to me that’s even more impressive than winning a world title, absolutely. Which also is a splendid performance, don’t get me wrong. I was extremely disappointed after his third place in the world championships in Qatar. Did you saw how great Tom reacted to his defeat? That characterizes him completely. 'Faut le faire, hein' on such a crucial moment.” SIGNBOARD It’s clear that when Tom Boonen retires he will be missed very hard in the Quick-Step formation. Zdenek Bakala also realizes that. But he refuses to see the future in dark co- lors. “However Tom won’t be a rider anymore next year, he will always be a part of the team in a certain way”, he claims. “He is our team’s public signboard for so many years. In my opinion Tom and the team became inseparably. Who says Tom Boonen says Quick-Step and who says Quick-Step, says Tom Boonen. We will see what the future brings. Who will become his successor on the bike? Sorry, but there will never be a second Tom Boonen. Like there will never be a second Eddy Merckx. But that doesn’t have to be a problem in our team. Currently we have a strong team, in width and in depth.” BACK TO SCHOOL “I want to wish Tom of course prosperity and successes in all areas of his life. Both professionally as personally”, Bakala says. “Beside that – and I will tell this to him per- sonally – I want to protect him from the mistakes which a lot of former pro athletes I know have made. A lot of those professional athletes start their careers at the age of sixteen or seventeen. During their career they didn’t have the possibilities to continue studying. That’s why I would say to every pro athlete who retires to go back to school. Look, all champions are without doubt very intelligent people who know the me- aning of hard work. When it comes to management or other industries the world is constantly moving. The things you’ve learned on school ten years ago, became completely irrelevant today.”