I remembered the recent information that I had read that was causing me to a have a niggling doubt in my mind - and here it is:
Cycle Sport - June 2008 - article on Boonen:
The media can't believe how they misread his Spring form prior to Paris Roubaix so badly:
"In 2007, he won Kuurne, Across Flanders and E3-Harelbeke and they still kept talking about Boonen's failed spring. What will happen if he misses out on Sunday at Roubaix?"
But the most devastating criticisms of all probably came from Roger De Vlaeminck. Never one to mince his words, 'Mr Paris Roubaix' simply stated: "Boonen's racing badly.
I hardly know anything about him anymore. But what I've seen doesn't inspire any confidence. In Flanders when Devolder went for it, he was out there by himself.
If Boonen was as good as he said he was, why didn't he go with Juan Antonio Flecha or Nick Nuyens when they tried to chase down Devolder in the last five kilometres of the race?
I didn't see him in Ghent-Wevelgem either, where all Boonen did was whinge about the descent of the Kemmelberg. Enough! In my day we used to go down the Kemmel descent four time a year without complaining.
I know riders' mentalities change, but when a rider complains about the route, it's because they haven't got the form. That hasn't changed. I hope I'm wrong, but I really don't believe it is going to happen".
There was also a lot of talk about the pressure with Flanders from the public expectation, his split with his long time girlfriend and then getting back together with her again. The article implies that Boonen has a world of pressure on him to provide the goods - the hopes and dreams of a whole nation.
( This sounds very similar to the Matt Rendell book on Pantani ) Alarm bells ringing??
Also - just one question on your comment about cocaine above - should the UCI ban a drug that in itself is illegal in the first place?
Any yes, I once dreamed that Armstrong was clean. I now have my serious doubts about that following the reading of the Pantani book. It is such a shame when dreams are shattered.