Boonen won the second and the third stages of the Tour of Belgium. Before the Tour de France he claimed himself to be the strongest and smartest sprinter. However, he did not win a stage in the first week, beaten by Robbie McEwen and Óscar Freire. However he wore the yellow jersey for the first time, losing it in the first time trial to Sergei Honchar. Boonen abandoned the Tour during the 15th stage – 187 km from Gap to l'Alpe d'Huez – when he was unable to reach the summit of the Col du Lautaret.