"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Damn it, Boonen.

He's dating a 16 year old.

While I will be the first to confess that I am ignorant in the laws and cultural view of such a relationship in Belgium/Europe, I have to say that as a 22 year old, dating a 16 year old is beyond comprehension. And he's what, 26?

The story:

Quick.Step boycotts awards ceremony
Meanwhile, no one from Quick.Step attended the ceremony. The team is boycotting HLN since the newspaper published doping charges against the squad in January this year.

Boonen had further difficulties with the newspaper this week after it published a story on his new girlfriend, 16 year-old Sophie van Vliet, the daughter of former pro Leo van Vliet, now organiser of the Amstel Gold Race and Amstel Curaçao Race. The sprinter at first denied the story, then admitted it, but said that the reporter had lied to him about where the interview would appear.


http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2007/dec07/dec06news2

Yeah, she doesn't pass the 1/2 your age plus 7 rule. WTF is he thinking?

But, my goodness: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2298/2088234493_e780bf6e3d.jpg?v=0

Belgium is sorta like the West Virginia of Western Europe aint it?

Belgium is sorta like the West Virginia of Western Europe aint it?

Maybe Southern Belgium, but I assume this is Flanders and is probably more to do with the Europeans non-prudishness when it comes to sex.

You should see some of the billboards around here.

Belgium is sorta like the West Virginia of Western Europe aint it?

Depends...are Boonen and Sophie cousins?

Don't know about Belgium, but 16 is the age of consent in the UK.

*edit*


Belgium (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ages_of_consent_in_Europe#Belgium)

The age of consent in Belgium is 16 except towards "close" persons (18 in this case), as specified by Article 372, which reads:

"All indecent assaults on modesty committed without violence or threat, by a person or by aiding the person, of a child of either sex, aged less than sixteen, will be punished by imprisonment (of five years to ten years).

Will be punished by imprisonment of ten to fifteen years the assault on modesty committed, without violence or threat, by all ascendant or adoptant, on the person or the with the help of the person of a minor, even aged more than sixteen, but not emancipated by marriage. The same punalty will be enforced

Depends...are Boonen and Sophie cousins?

Good question! Its ok though if she's like a 3rd cousin.

Nuttin wrong with younger women. My wife is 7 1/2 years younger than me. But she was 23 when we met. :p

Awww bucknuts. I used to cheer for him.


Countdown to Lance-comparison in 3... 2... 1...

Don't know about Belgium, but 16 is the age of consent in the UK.

Legal != ethical.

16 will get ya 20.

A 26 year old Boonen has probably about the same maturity as a 16 year old girl.

Would someone please remind the other countries in the world that they're supposed to live by the American rules?

Legal != ethical.

How would you define "ethical" in this situation?

Would someone please remind the other countries in the world that they're supposed to live by the American rules?

as usual, our resident scribe gets it.

But, my goodness: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2298/2088234493_e780bf6e3d.jpg?v=0

That puts it all in perspective.

How would you define "ethical" in this situation?

Sixteen year-olds are well known for their excellent decision-making abilities. I'm sure they're not swayed in the least by fame and fortune.

as usual, our resident scribe gets it.

So no one over there considers that a bit odd?

I suppose I took a rather prude look at things, considering there are many cultures around the world that marry people off at lesser ages than that.

I still think it's wierd for a fully grown man to be dating a mid-teen, though. What would their conversations be like?

So no one over there considers that a bit odd?

I suppose I took a rather prude look at things, considering there are many cultures around the world that marry people off at lesser ages than that.

I still think it's wierd for a fully grown man to be dating a mid-teen, though. What would their conversations be like?

He's a bike racer, not a philosopher. And she's, well, she's a 16 year old girl. What conversations?

16? they didnt look like this when i was 16. did they? later.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2298/2088234493_e780bf6e3d.jpg?v=0

Don't know any thing about this particular young lady, but if she's anything like America's brand of jet set trash she has probably achieved a level of sexual sophistication I don't even want to know about.

So no one over there considers that a bit odd?

I suppose I took a rather prude look at things, considering there are many cultures around the world that marry people off at lesser ages than that.

I still think it's wierd for a fully grown man to be dating a mid-teen, though. What would their conversations be like?

I haven't discussed it with any friends, but somehow I doubt that they'd sweat it. It is, after all, legal.

As far as conversations, based on the interviews I've seen with typical Belgian pros, I'd rather talk to a 16 year old (even if Boonen is unique, in that he's witty).

If you're Belgian...and have a smokin' hot daughter...and Boonen wants to nail her...YOU LET IT HAPPEN!!!

Don't know any thing about this particular young lady, but if she's anything like America's brand of jet set trash she has probably achieved a level of sexual sophistication I don't even want to know about.

"And that's when I walked in on my parents doing something my father would later describe as 'The Pile Driver' ".

I love "Scrubs".

I love "Scrubs".

+1...good show.

Her father was a pro racer. Likely she is far less in awe of Boonen as a sports figure than most would be. She probably understands a lot more about his situation as a pro rider than 99%+ of all women would (Yes even Belgian women). Good chance they have a huge set of common friends and acquantances.

I can see a lot of good reasons that are big plusses for this relationship and only one minus, and the minus will fade in time.

I guess it's about individual societal mores and laws, so if it's legal (16 being the age of consent in a majority of U.S. states BTW), then fine.

Having said that, being in your mid-20's and dating--not just hooking up once or so--a 16 year old strikes me as indicative of a serious character flaw.

And the picture? Hawt.

Sixteen year-olds are well known for their excellent decision-making abilities. I'm sure they're not swayed in the least by fame and fortune.

The same could be said for 18 year olds. Would you consider it unethical if she were 18?

By the way if it's not obvious, I'm just playing devil's advocate. Personally, given the details of this particular situation and the fact that I don't know either party I wouldn't consider it unethical, but I wouldn't necessarily consider it ethical either.

The same could be said for 18 year olds. Would you consider it unethical if she were 18?

By the way if it's not obvious, I'm just playing devil's advocate. Personally, given the details of this particular situation and the fact that I don't know either party I wouldn't consider it unethical, but I wouldn't necessarily consider it ethical either.

Hell, I don't consider it unethical now, I haven't put any thought into it. But just because it's legal doesn't make something OK in my book.

I'd call the situation... borderline. Age/2 + 7 = automatically OK. Something less? Well, maybe it's OK... but I doubt it'll end up well.

she definitely doesn't look 16.

http://pix2.telenet.be/S5j7XPQ-Y7LcWrADIi5cH!Pu-WtpSFb4rIEksjbMu6pfFp43lyhxsOoiSXs23Ppas-KW6nFJUMzCsmXtdO8ZzxSRAFVYAZvjSEjGFkXdJsZh12xitbUsazsa1s-stW1TEW5Pe4cPlrUZhSH3PGXI-Kfw__/Boontje03.jpg (http://foto.nieuwsblad.be/0741814291)

Hell, I don't consider it unethical now, I haven't put any thought into it. But just because it's legal doesn't make something OK in my book.

Oh yeah I totally agree with that. My point is that a lot of people would consider 16 to be unethical but 18 to be ethical - which is based mostly on cultural relativism.

If you're Belgian...and have a smokin' hot daughter...and Boonen wants to nail her...YOU LET IT HAPPEN!!!

LOL...

damn i wish i were boonen :p

she definitely doesn't look 16.

http://pix2.telenet.be/S5j7XPQ-Y7LcWrADIi5cH!Pu-WtpSFb4rIEksjbMu6pfFp43lyhxsOoiSXs23Ppas-KW6nFJUMzCsmXtdO8ZzxSRAFVYAZvjSEjGFkXdJsZh12xitbUsazsa1s-stW1TEW5Pe4cPlrUZhSH3PGXI-Kfw__/Boontje03.jpg (http://foto.nieuwsblad.be/0741814291)

That just means by the time she's 40 she'll have skin like old leather work boots.

That just means by the time she's 40 she'll have skin like old leather work boots.

All the more reason to go after her before she graduates high school.

So no one over there considers that a bit odd?

I suppose I took a rather prude look at things, considering there are many cultures around the world that marry people off at lesser ages than that.

I still think it's wierd for a fully grown man to be dating a mid-teen, though. What would their conversations be like?

I was just wondering the same thing. I can barely talk to the recent college grads that I hired back in mid-summer about anything that isnt work. I have no idea what they're talking about half the time.

The chick, yeah, she's hot and all, but Boonen has celebrity, fortune, and doesnt look like your typical dorky bike racer - he's a pretty handsome guy. IMO, he could do much, much, much better.

16 year old? I find that really hard to believe. I know 25 year old females that look younger than her.

http://us4.pixagogo.com/S5j7XPQ-Y7LcUxjskaYQ-A2EA3UjItCCCCCBXUfZg0Y02EvmvY57dnOSuL52dafaMaP9lFWu7irEbD!CD3zbfbPl-dOVD9KtJXZ!F1OsCkR56tJgV6MexotWY2p1-CwfZKiFROcxfNEobp05a21!FvqA__/Boontje15.jpg
http://us10.pixagogo.com/S5j7XPQ-Y7LcWtz01d5aJnQpSMjm0pVR1fsCbXEQ-UIzbcDBEzbC5OBMQfIkuFXjw2UhnYv7nNfyZnOjp7y3j609scejIQ!iGbvHhHADO8dilGnmAFHlgjs5fuOs8U6vXLJCkbAeHZ7Cn A4sZfAefLAw__/Boontje11.jpg

All the more reason to go after her before she graduates high school.

:beer:;)

16 year old? I find that really hard to believe. I know 25 year old females that look younger than her.


http://us10.pixagogo.com/S5j7XPQ-Y7LcWtz01d5aJnQpSMjm0pVR1fsCbXEQ-UIzbcDBEzbC5OBMQfIkuFXjw2UhnYv7nNfyZnOjp7y3j609scejIQ!iGbvHhHADO8dilGnmAFHlgjs5fuOs8U6vXLJCkbAeHZ7Cn A4sZfAefLAw__/Boontje11.jpg

That is a fitting T-shirt that Boonen is wearing.

That girl is going to be quite to pudge when she reaches 20.

That girl is going to be quite to pudge when she reaches 20.

Until then she's gonna get tossed around the peleton like a dartboard.:o

Cool. I don't care much for this situation, it's legally alright by Belgian standards and she's not his Belgian love slave who'd been kidnapped from her parents.

As a side note, do they even have high school in Belgium? I thought they did far less years of school than American schools.

I don't have a problem with the idea. Not to mention that we don't know either of them, so perhaps they're a better match than it seems at face value. Who knows, having been in that environment (ie. around celebrities) for most of her life could have caused her to be more mentally mature than most 16 year-olds.

Maybe they're just good friends. Similar tastes in music and fashion, that kinda thing.

It could happen...

As a side note, do they even have high school in Belgium?

Of course not. It's straight to meth labs after kindergarten.

That girl is going to be quite to pudge when she reaches 20.

Doubt it ... do you know who her dad is?

As long as their feet reach the ground when they are sitting on the esky its ok IMO.

If the dad is cool with it...

I had sex when I was 16.

*shrug*

she definitely doesn't look 16.

http://pix2.telenet.be/S5j7XPQ-Y7LcWrADIi5cH!Pu-WtpSFb4rIEksjbMu6pfFp43lyhxsOoiSXs23Ppas-KW6nFJUMzCsmXtdO8ZzxSRAFVYAZvjSEjGFkXdJsZh12xitbUsazsa1s-stW1TEW5Pe4cPlrUZhSH3PGXI-Kfw__/Boontje03.jpg (http://foto.nieuwsblad.be/0741814291)


As a father of a couple of beautiful girls, (now in their twenties)...She does look sixteen. The dude has got millions. He could be shopping at the big girl market. Do women with a CLUE scare him. Sorry guys I don't subscribe to the old enough to >>>>> old enough to >>>>> litmus test. Very disturbing!

I had sex when I was 16.

*shrug*

With a Belgian pro?

16 year old? I find that really hard to believe. I know 25 year old females that look younger than her.

http://us4.pixagogo.com/S5j7XPQ-Y7LcUxjskaYQ-A2EA3UjItCCCCCBXUfZg0Y02EvmvY57dnOSuL52dafaMaP9lFWu7irEbD!CD3zbfbPl-dOVD9KtJXZ!F1OsCkR56tJgV6MexotWY2p1-CwfZKiFROcxfNEobp05a21!FvqA__/Boontje15.jpg
http://us10.pixagogo.com/S5j7XPQ-Y7LcWtz01d5aJnQpSMjm0pVR1fsCbXEQ-UIzbcDBEzbC5OBMQfIkuFXjw2UhnYv7nNfyZnOjp7y3j609scejIQ!iGbvHhHADO8dilGnmAFHlgjs5fuOs8U6vXLJCkbAeHZ7Cn A4sZfAefLAw__/Boontje11.jpg

Dating a GIRL? I find that really hard to believe. I know flaming queens who are straighter than him.

:D:D:D