"I lived in a world that wasn't real" - Former World Champion Tom Boonen reveals he needed 'time to heal' from being a pro cyclist
Cycling
Tom Boonen is one of the best professional riders to have ever stepped foot in the peloton, but it has not come without a cost. At age 46 the Belgian legend is in therapy after having spent his life in the cycling bubble, a 'world that isn't real' according to his own words.
Boonen is a rider that needs little introduction, having marked generations within the sport. He turned pro in 2002 with the former US Postal Service team next to Lance Armstrong, and moved on to the Quick-Step team the following years, where he spent his entire career - all the way until 2017.
On the way he has won a world title in 2005; four editions of Paris-Roubaix; three editions of the Tour of Flanders; six Tour de France stage wins and a green jersey over his years.
The Mol native effectively took over 100 pro wins during his years as a professional, making him not only one of the best out of the 2000's and 2010's, but also an historical figure for cycling and one of the riders with the most amount of monument wins throughout his career.
Tom Boonen and his long-time rival Fabian Cancellara at Paris-Roubaix
Boonen lived in a world that wasn't real
When that finished at the 2017 Paris-Roubaix, Boonen has had to adapt to a new life, without the luxuries of being taken care of by a full team all year long. It was then that he realized a truly new phase of his life would begin. "For sixteen or seventeen years, I lived in a world that wasn't real," he said on 'Happy Hour', a show on VTM.
"You spend sixteen or seventeen years of your life in a world that isn't real—a world to which you dedicate everything, for which you do everything. But you have to recover from that. I needed some time to heal," Boonen said, revealing that he has had to go into therapy to deal with the changes in his life that have taken place since.
He also believes that the sport turned him into a different person. "I think that, because of cycling, I had become someone I’m not—or someone I didn’t want to be. I’m very happy with where I’ve ended up in my life now, but [therapy] did me a world of good".
The extremes of a professional cyclist life took a toll on Boonen
From 2002 to 2017 Boonen would experience many wins, but also many crashes, injuries and losses - including that of Wouter Weilandt, a teammate of many years at Quick-Step.
Even his final years as a pro were filled with extremes. In October 2015 he crashed at the Abu Dhabi Tour and fractured his skull. In April of 2016 he came within inches of a record-breaking fifth Paris-Roubaix win; and later that year he would finish on the podium of his final World Championships - 11 years after he had first won it, and with retirement only months ahead.
"Traumatic isn't the right word, but it’s such an extreme life of highs and lows... you’re pulled out of the real world and thrust into this cycling bubble, where everything is done for you and you become a hero to so many people..."
Boonen advocated for therapy in the show, highlighting how important it has been in his development as a person, as of late. "These are sessions lasting an hour or sometimes two; you go back fifteen, twenty, or thirty times, and eventually, you see results".
"The process is different for everyone, of course. But I would recommend it to anyone—if you’ve been through something in your life, or whatever the case may be. It really helps. It allowed me to process everything I hadn't been able to digest on my own."
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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- So people are now guilty by virtue of having lived in a certain set of decades? Wonder how that argument would hold up in court?LMAO.
Brucegel17-10-2026 - you can reduce speed by increasing bike weight and increasing air resistance but it will penalize riders with lower weight a lot.abstractengineer17-10-2026
- Just trying to gall the reader for clicks.Seems to be working.Just ignore the assinine article.Brucegel17-10-2026
- in football also, The Special one is like a dictator controlling the egos of Ibra and other top footballers. Also Alex Ferguson was very abusive sometimes violent too but all of it gets swept under the rug due to the accomplishments. Even today i would say that verbal abuse and screaming still remains the best tool of most managers to motivate their players next to benching and fear of trade.abstractengineer17-10-2026
- At least all that doping talk will end when (if) Seixas becomes world #1vappaxbipmv17-10-2026
- He is only 24, i think his team is to be blamed in part for the mismanagement due to their reliance on him for points. But ultimately i dont think they had options either. What is needs is a good rest , consultation with doctors about his issues (mental or physical) if any and then fresh start, slow but steady. He should be back at the top, maybe a limited racing calendar will also helpabstractengineer17-10-2026
- i think its the worst for the winners with "win at all costs" mentalityabstractengineer17-10-2026
- You @frieder3, as an american, should also be ashamed of your president. If you're not, there's something wrong with you.PogiSloFans17-10-2026
- A simple solution would be de cluttering the media circus that follows race get rid of photographers on bikes or only allow at certain places. All drivers or riders to be certified. It is not rocket science. You cannot reduce speed of peleton so ensure the bubble they ride in is safepaultryan200217-10-2026
- I don’t know about some of these reports, is it shocking that management says do it our way? we are the managers, not you? I understand some teams might have a more collaborative approach. but this is within their rights as management.mij17-10-2026
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