Boonen hasn’t forgotten about Cancellara’s "motor": "I don’t know what’s true, or what isn't"

Tom Boonen appeared as a guest in the special Christmas episode of the podcast Stamcafé Koers. The more than two-hour-and-forty-minute episode covers a variety of topics, including the rumors about Cancellara's "motor" during the 2010 Tour of Flanders — something Boonen has never forgotten about, most likely because it keeps coming up.

At one point in the episode, the discussion shifts to the Eddy Merckx bike Boonen used to finish fifth in Paris-Roubaix in 2010. Naturally, this leads to a conversation about the Tour of Flanders of that same year. "2010? Ah, that was the year Cancellara dropped me in every race. I was second in Milan-San Remo, second in Harelbeke and the Tour of Flanders, and fifth in Paris-Roubaix. It wasn’t my spring, even though I had never raced better."

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Boonen during Paris-Roubaix

Boonen’s thoughts on the alleged motor in Cancellara’s bike

After Cancellara’s stunning spring campaign in 2010, during which he won the E3, Tour of Flanders, and Paris-Roubaix, there was an unexpected twist. At the end of May 2010, a YouTube video surfaced showing former pro cyclist Davide Cassani demonstrating a bike with a hidden motor. Shortly after, footage emerged which appeared to show the Swiss rider speeding off after pressing a button on his handlebars during both the Tour of Flanders and Roubaix. One moment in particular sparked lots of speculation: Cancellara’s attack on the Muur van Geraardsbergen, where he suddenly pulled away from Tom Boonen.

Although Cancellara has always denied using a motor, the controversy has stuck to him — and also, indirectly, to his Belgian rival. "People often bring it up with me, but I’m the last person who should comment on it, so I should probably just not talk about it. I don’t know what’s true, or what isn't. I have my thoughts on it, but I’ll keep them to myself."

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Boonen wins the sprint

"Looking back, you start thinking about that"

Boonen’s thoughts on the situation do come up briefly, though, as he talks about Cancellara’s two separate bike changes, which took place within six kilometers of one another. Boonen was close to Cancellara during the second bike change. "At one point, I saw him struggling to get to the right side of the road before that left-hand turn. Then he jumped off his bike and grabbed a new one. Three seconds later, he was riding next to me again. I thought, 'That’s strange, choosing to swap bikes there.' Why did that happen? I don’t know."

There’s certainly a hint of suspicion from Boonen, especially when he mentions the three-time Paris-Roubaix winner's bike going missing. "At the finish in Ninove, it was quite a walk from the podium to the press room and doping control. Everyone always went by bike. And from there, back to the team buses, which were even further away. When we came down from the podium, one bike was gone. Gilbert and I took our bikes, while he was struggling to make his way through the crowd on foot. At the time, I didn’t think much of it, but looking back, you start thinking about that."

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Cancellara now owns Tudor

Boonen only wants to get on stage with Cancellara if... He brings his bike from 2010

After that race, things were never quite the same between the two rivals. "Fabian is Fabian, a unique person. I’ve had some great races with him. Until that year, I had no issues with him. True or not true, I did put up a bit of a barrier between us after that. I didn’t want to deal with it anymore. On his side, that might have been misinterpreted. I have nothing to hide. If he does, well, that’s a different story, of course."

Boonen wraps up the conversation about the bike with a funny anecdote. Two years ago, both Cancellara and Boonen attended Rouleur Live. The organizers were keen to have the two riders appear together on stage. "Fabian had said I probably wouldn’t be up for it because things were a bit difficult between us. I replied, 'Oh, absolutely not. I’d love to be on stage with Fabian. On one condition: that he brings his bike from the 2010 Tour of Flanders.' I added that they could tell him that," Boonen concludes with a laugh.

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