Lars Boom
A powerhouse Dutch cyclist who conquered the muddy, technical world of cyclo-cross before taking on the grueling roads of the Tour de France.
Born 1985 (age 41)·Dutch racing cyclist·Birthday: December 30·Millennials
Biography
Lars Boom was built for the brutal, winter discipline of cyclo-cross. With a powerful frame and relentless engine, he dominated the off-road scene, becoming a world champion and a national hero in the Netherlands. His success on the mud and sand was never a niche pursuit; it was the foundation for a formidable road racing career. He transitioned to the WorldTour with Rabobank, bringing a unique toughness that served him well in the cobbled Classics. Boom's career highlight came on the wet, treacherous pavé of the 2014 Tour de France, where he won a dramatic stage into Arenberg, outpowering the peloton in conditions that felt like home. His story is one of a specialist who refused to be pigeonholed, using his raw strength to compete at the highest level on two very different surfaces.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Lars was born in 1985, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Lars Was Born
The biggest hits of 1985
#1 Movie
Back to the Future
Best Picture
Out of Africa
#1 TV Show
Dynasty
Lars's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1985Born
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1990Started school
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1998Became a teenager
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Could drive
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2003Could vote
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Turned 21
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2015Turned 30
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2025Turned 40
AI agents go mainstream
Gas: $3.10/galHome: $385,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"APT." — Rose & Bruno Mars
2026Age 41 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the UCI Cyclo-cross World Championship in 2008.
- Secured a stage victory on the cobbles of Arenberg during the 2014 Tour de France.
- Claimed the Dutch national road race title in 2012.
- Won multiple stages of the Eneco Tour (now Benelux Tour), including the overall title in 2009.
Did You Know?
His surname 'Boom' translates to 'tree' in Dutch, a fitting name for his strong physique.
He is a distant relative of cycling great Jan Janssen, the 1968 Tour de France winner.
Boom was known for his aggressive riding style and ability to perform in terrible weather conditions.
“Cyclo-cross made me hard; the road cannot break that.”
