BOOGERD FACTFILE DOB: 28/5/1972 Nationality: Dutch Best Tour: Fifth - 1998 |
At 31, Boogerd is arguably past his best as a Tour rider. He has struggled to live up to the promise he showed as a 26-year-old when he ended the race fifth overall and was talked about the following year as a possible winner of the yellow jersey on the Champs Elysee.
He finished last year's event in 12th and is likely to be there or thereabouts this time around.
The Dutchman's major problem, however, remains his inconsistency throughout the three weeks of the event.
In the stage nine time trial, for example, he finished 65th - a disastrous position for a rider hoping to challenge in the general classification.
Then, on stage 19 - the second time trial - he was a thoroughly respectable 13th.
For all his inconsistencies, he is still prone to moments of brilliance, most recently his stage 16 win at La Plagne last year.
On that day he proved too strong even for Lance Armstrong, who had to make do with third place more than a minute behind Boogerd.
There is no denying the Dutchman's sporting pedigree - he was a school friend of former Wimbledon champion Richard Krajicek.
It remains to be seen which Boogerd, however, shows up at this year's race - champion or also ran.
On this season's form - he finished third in the Liege-Bastogne-Liege and was second in the Tour of Flanders - he may yet prove himself.
MMIX
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
