Boonen admits he may leave the Giro d'Italia early if there's nothing for him to play for

When you're as decorated a cyclist as Tom Boonen you sometimes get the luxury of choosing your destiny in races. As such, Boonen's schedule isn't forcing him to finish the Giro d'Italia, which has still almost two weeks to run.

The Belgian admits that he will be on the last stage to Milan if there's something for him to drive for, such as the final stage win.

If he feels he's not strong enough to win that sprint, he's well aware that he won't be much use for Rigoberto Uran in the mountains and thus sees no point in carrying on.

"My schedule does not depend on what the rest of the team does," Boonen told Sporza. "I will not be much help in the last week. Uran is now in a situation where he can move forward slowly and he doesn't need as many teammates as [Alberto] Contador and [Fabio] Aru.

"It's my plan to go to Milan to drive, but the you should only do the last week of a Grand Tour if there is something attached to it.

"I have finished the Tour twice: once I won the final stage in Paris, one time I took home the green jersey. "

"All the other times I've ridden it there has been nothing to strive for. I prefer to go home with energy to spare. I hear that riders like to say they have finished the Tour. But many of them are worth nothing for the rest of the season."