"I also didn't like riding over cobblestones. But I was good at it" - Tom Boonen empathises with Antonio Morgado's viral post-Le Samyn interview
Cycling
UAE Team Emirates' Portuguese prospect, Antonio Morgado starred on the famed cobblestones of Belgium earlier this week, taking a narrow second place at Le Samyn behind Laurens Rex.
In his interview afterwards, was asked if he enjoyed his day in the saddle, to which he hilariously replied; "No. I don't like these types of races." A response that quickly went viral on social media. Watching at home was Classics legend, Tom Boonen and the 43-year-old Belgian admits he saw something of himself in the Portuguese.
"I also didn't like that, riding over cobblestones. But I was good at it," admits the four-time Paris-Roubaix winner and three-time Tour of Flanders winner in conversation with Jan Bakelants on the Wielerclub Wattage podcast for Sporza. "It may be that Morgado will still like the cobblestones if he can ride over them faster than the rest."
The fact Morgado is already impressing at such a young age bodes well for the 20-year-old whether or not he likes the cobbles says Boonen. "If you can do this at the age of 20, then you have everything you need to have a great future," he concludes. "But he still has to do it himself."
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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- It would likely be a very steep section of 4.1 km, not changing the average gradient considerably, with the climb remaining 10.1 km at 11.8%. It would reach 20% on the gravel. It would start 1.6 km in, and finish with 4.2 km left to climb (before the short final descent)
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"- Do you like these Belgian races with cobbles? Antonio Morgado: "No." Still been a beast on them. #LeSamyn
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