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Belgium, renowned for its rich cycling history, has produced some of the sport’s most illustrious figures, and among them stands Tom Boonen, a true Flemish cycling legend. Boonen’s career is marked by numerous victories, cementing his status as one of the greatest Belgian cyclists of all time and leaving an indelible mark on Belgian cycling.

Boonen’s journey to cycling stardom began in the early 2000s, and he quickly emerged as a force to be reckoned with in the professional peloton. His prowess in one-day races, particularly the monumental classics, became the cornerstone of his legacy. The Belgian rider claimed an impressive four victories in the prestigious Paris-Roubaix, a race that epitomizes the grit and determination required to conquer its challenging cobblestone sections.

In addition to his Paris-Roubaix triumphs, Boonen etched his name in the history books with three victories in the Tour of Flanders, another monumental classic that epitomizes the essence of Flemish cycling. His ability to navigate the narrow roads and cobbled climbs of Flanders endeared him to fans, making him a symbol of national pride. Boonen’s classic victories not only secured his place among cycling greats but also solidified his status as a beloved figure in the hearts of Flemish cycling enthusiasts.

Beyond the classics, Boonen also excelled in stage races and sprint finishes. He claimed the green jersey in the Tour de France, showcasing his versatility as a cyclist. Boonen’s achievements extended to multiple victories in the E3 Harelbeke, Gent-Wevelgem, and the Belgian National Road Race Championships, further underlining his dominance on home soil.

Eddy Merckx, the legendary Belgian cyclist, founded the Eddy Merckx bicycle brand in 1980 after retiring from professional racing. Renowned as one of the greatest cyclists of all time, Merckx applied his extensive knowledge and passion for cycling to create high-performance bicycles. The brand quickly gained acclaim for its high quality, becoming a symbol of excellence in the cycling world. Eddy Merckx bicycles were ridden to numerous victories in prestigious races, solidifying their reputation for precision engineering and top-tier performance.

The Eddy Merckx EMX-7 that we have in our Flandrien Hotel collection was raced by Boonen in the 2011 season in which he won the opening stage of the Tour of Qatar and added the Belgian Classic Ghent Wevelgem to his palmares.  The bike was launched at a special event bringing Boonen together with the other legend of Belgian cycling – the great Eddy Merckx himself. 

Tom raced on a custom geometry frameset, with a short seat tube and extra-long top tube, created in a special  mould designed by the Eddy Merckx engineers. The bike was fitted with Campagnolo Record 11s Groupset and FFWD Carbon Wheels. The EMX 7’s first eye catch is the integrated seatmast and monocoque airfoil tubing. The aero fork flows into a tapered headtube and the rear triangle has asymmetrical chain stays, with internally routed cables.

As part of the “superbike” category the EMX-7 was assembled from the highest specification 62 HM carbon. According to the Merckx engineers, they were looking at 70HM fiber (something that at that time had never been used on a bicycle before) but the price would have been over 7000 euro for the frame along – a lot of money in 2011.  

Retiring in 2017, Boonen left behind a legacy that transcends his race victories. His impact on Flemish cycling is immeasurable, inspiring a new generation of riders to pursue greatness on the international stage. Boonen’s success not only elevated him to the status of a national hero but also contributed to the ongoing narrative of Belgium as a cycling powerhouse.

In the same year of Boonen’s retirement, Belgian Cycling Factory (the company behind Ridley and Forza) became the owner of Eddy Merckx bikes, and the brand remains in Belgian hands. 

And for those of you who are real bike nerds, here are Tom’s measurements:

• Rider’s height: 1.92m (6’4″)
• Rider’s weight: 82kg (181lb)
• Saddle height, from BB (c-t): 820mm
• Saddle setback: 100mm
• Seat tube length, c-t: N/A
• Seat tube length, c-c: 514mm
• Tip of saddle nose to C of bars (next to stem): 645mm
• Saddle-to-bar drop (vertical): 135mm
• Head tube length: 174mm
• Top tube length: 582mm (horizontal)

If you have very long legs and would like to hire Tom’s bicycle during a stay at the Flandrien Hotel, you can reserve it via our Classic Hire Rental service.