Tom Boonen's very limited edition Specialized Venge for final career races.
Tom Boonen has secured his place as a legend in world cycling and in his native Belgium it’s no exaggeration to say that he has reached Godly status.
So it’s no surprise that Specialized has come up with a special edition Venge as Boonen faces into his last European spring campaign.
And undoubtedly with an eye on continuing ‘brand Boonen’ after he hangs up his racing wheels very shortly, the bike company has devised a new livery that will be all Boonen’s in retirement.
The bike giant says the “four-wing feather tip” paint job design will become “the mark” of Boonen in retirement.
In other words, whatever he puts his name to will bear that design.
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The limited edition bike designed specifically for the Belgian will be sold in all Specialized markets, in a very small number, and will debut tomorrow at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.
“The four-wing feather tip design represents the four Paris-Roubaix victories Tom scored in 2005, 2008, 2009 and 2012,” his team QuickStep explained of the design.
“These are intended to be wings of a guardian angel which will help carry him safely to obtain his fifth well-deserved coveted trophy which he came so close to achieving last year.”
Boonen, who has won 19 cobbled classics during a 15-year pro career, says he’s on board with the whole thing.
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"Specialized approached me as they wanted to do a special edition bike for my last pro season,” he explained.
“I said yes and now I have it and can say I'm really proud and happy of what they have done.
“I always said that I want to close the circle and end my career on a white bike, after starting it on white one as well, and Specialized gave me this great opportunity.
"I really love it, with its paint job and golden touches, with the guardian angel on the top tube who I hope to protect me during this spring and with the ‘heroes get remembered, but legends never die’ aphorism.
“I'm excited to kick off the classics season with this outstanding bike", concluded Tom Boonen, a winner of 19 cobbled Classics throughout his career.
The Venge is Specialized’s aero frame, with a curved down tube and seat tube to tightened the geometry around the wheels to minimise drag.
His disc brakes are Shimano R-785 series and he uses Shimano's Dura-Ace Di2 groupset.
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