Belgium's love affair with the Tour of Flanders could reach dizzying heights Sunday when Tom Boonen bids to shake off Swiss nemesis Fabian Cancellara and join an elite club of three-time champions.
Belgium's Tom Boonen of team Omega Pharma-Quick Step, seen here during a press conference prior to the 96th edition of the Tour of Flanders' one day cycling race, in Kortrijk. Belgium's love affair with the Tour of Flanders could reach dizzying heights on Sunday when Boonen bids to shake off Swiss nemesis Fabian Cancellara and join an elite club of three-time champions.
A former two-time winner of the race -- known affectionately as the 'Ronde' (Tour) -- Boonen has signalled his return to winning ways after a complicated end to last season with two notable victories last week.
First, the Belgian claimed a fifth career victory in the E3 Harelbeke on Friday and, three days later, captured his second successive Ghent-Wevelgem title.
Despite the shorter distance and lesser intensity of both races, it was a strong indication that Boonen will be a main protagonist in the 255 km epic, which is crucially dotted with 16 climbs of varying difficulties.
Boonen has the form, but two uncontrollable factors could determine his success: Cancellara, and a new race route which is said to have made the race even more brutal.
Now finishing in Oudenarde instead of Meerbeke, organisers have also shaken up how the peloton will tackle the finishing climbs.
The famous 'Muur van Geraardsbergen', where Cancellara left Boonen in his wake two years ago, is now off the menu however a finishing circuit which will be raced three times is a boon for fans.
Retired champion Johan Museeuw, the 'Lion of Flanders' who shares the record of three career 'Ronde' victories, believes the changes have made the race far tougher.
"It looks like it's going to be very difficult. Even moreso than before," warned Museeuw.
"Tackling the Oude Kwaremont and then the Paterberg (climbs) will force everyone to go into the red and nobody will be looking forward to this high-risk finale."
The possibility of a headwind for the final 13 km, the distance separating the crest of the Paterberg from the finish, will also determine whether solo or bunch attacks make it all the way to the finish unhindered.
"If there's a small group in front, only the strongest will survive," added Museeuw. "The guys who will still have the power, like Boonen ou Cancellara. This really will be a different Tour of Flanders.
Boonen's success in Belgium last week has taken the pressure off, but the former world champion knows Flanders is a different ball game.
"I'll be able to go into the two most important races of the spring (the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix) without any pressure," said Boonen.
"I know now that I'm in great form. I'll be relaxed, but I won't forget that nothing is won in advance."
Cancellara, the reigning Olympic time trial champion, has tasted victory this season with a stage win at Tirreno-Adriatico and victory at the Strade Bianche.
However the Swiss is still digesting a runner-up place to Australian Simon Gerrans in a two-up sprint for victory at the season's first major classic, Milan-SanRemo.
In a two-up duel with Boonen, the Belgian would likely dominate Cancellara -- a reality that prompted the Swiss's daring solo attack in 2010, when he left Boonen on his wake on the Muur van Geraardsbergen.
Some feel that could still be his best chance of winning the 'Ronde' again.
"Apart from Cancellara, I don't see anyone else capable of racing solo to the finish line from the Paterberg," said Museeuw. "Unless Boonen still has juice in his legs."
Nuyens is absent this year but a handful of other contenders could upset Boonen and Cancellara's plans.
A tactical error cost Frenchman Sylvain Chavanel the biggest win of his career last year when he finished second behind Nuyens, whose win came in large part to some of the major favourites marking each other out of the game.
Italians Alessandro Ballan and Filippo Pozzato, Spaniard Juan Antonio Flecha, Belgian Bjoern Leukemans and Australian Heinrich Haussler would be forgiven for hoping the same happens on Sunday.