Tom Boonen unveils interesting statue of himself at the Taaeinberg

Belgian legendary cyclist Tom Boonen who will be remembered as one of the best Classics rider got a statue on the also legendary Taaienberg climb. The statue on the mountain in Maarkedal is called “Boonen Beenen” and was created by designer Thomas Huyghe. Only the legs of the 42-year-old former pro can be seen on the statue. Boonen had to stand on one leg for no less than three hours and on the other for three hours while making the statue.

The Taaienberg really became my climb. I could often make the decision there. I am enormously proud, I think it is very successful. Furthermore, I am enormously happy. We had some very nice entries, but for me this immediately stood out. I said to the jury that this had to be it for me, and then the rest followed.”, stated Boonen who clearly has a special bond to that hill to the Belgian news tablets who were present at the inaugural scene of his statue.

“As a work of art an such, I thought this was so strong. I would even want to have this in my garden. It is not the typical statue of a rider, like there are already. It is a resting point at the end of a tough gradient that is often decisive," he finished, clearly satisfied with the work that was putted on the monument in his honor.

Tom Boonen had a 17 years career at high level mainly in the Quickstep Team, securing a lot of great results in particular, 4 times Paris-Roubaix monument, 3 times Tour des Flanders Monument, 1 World Championship Road Race title, 6 stages at Tour de France, 5 times E3 Prijs Harelbeke classic and 3 times Gent-Wevelgem. The Belgian nowadays switched to motorsports and is now a car racing driver.