Tom Boonen shares childhood memories with pet jackdaw - " He used to ride along to school on the handlebars of my BMX "

Tom Boonen may have left the peloton behind, but his grounded personality continues to garner attention. On the latest edition of Wielerclub Wattage, Boonen delved into his past and revealed his soft spot for creatures of all kinds.

"When I was about six years old, my grandparents had a nest in the fireplace. My father then climbed onto the roof and came back with a nest of jackdaws,” shares the Belgian. He continues, "I raised all those little birds on bread and milk. My brother and I each kept a jackdaw. My jackdaw was named Jan."

It didn't take much time for them to develop a deep bond. "Jan was so tame that he used to ride along to school on the handlebars of my BMX in the morning. That was a one-and-a-half-kilometre trip and then he flew home again."

While perched atop a tree, Jan patiently waited for his dear friend to finish school before accompanying him to his home. "At the end of the school day, Jan was waiting for me in a tree. He then flew to my handlebars and drove home with me. I've had a lot of crazy animals," Boonen concluded.