Italian steps in to replace Belgian sprinter as ASO nixes Weylandt
Francesco Reda will be the rider to replace Tom Boonen in the Quick Step team at the Tour de France, which starts in Rotterdam on Saturday. The Belgian sprinter was forced to withdraw from the race last week suffering from knee problems caused by a crash in the Tour of California and exacerbated in another at the Tour de Suisse.
“I’m very excited,” said Reda. “I’ve always dreamt of competing in the Tour de France. My only regret is that I made it on to the team because of Tom Boonen’s misfortune. I hope he gets better as soon as possible.”
27-year-old Italian Reda will be riding his first ever Tour de France, but has ridden both of the last two Giri d’Italia, since joining the team last year. He completed the race in 2009 but abandoned this year on stage 17 from Brunico to Pejo Terme. His spring schedule was interrupted when he broke his collarbone in a crash on stage 4 of Tirreno-Ariatico.
“During my career I’ve already participated in the Giro 2 times,” he continued, “the Grande Boucle is one of the great stage races that I have never gone for. I’m starting out with the goal of riding my best stage after stage and, if I get the chance, I’ll try to take advantage of my chances to capture the best results.”
There has been much speculation over Boonen’s replacement, with the team originally stating that it would either be Kevin Hulsmans or Wouter Weylandt. After originally ruling himself out of the race, new Belgian champion Stijn Devolder threw his hat back into the ring this week by saying that he was once again interested in riding.
The Quick Step team had wanted to opt for Weylandt, who would have been a logical choice as he is a sprinter like Boonen. Tour de France organiser ASO reportedly ruled this out though as he had not been included on the 15-rider long list that the team had submitted on April 2nd.
“Wouter Weylandt, with his skills as a sprinter would have been a natural substitute for Tom Boonen,” said Team Manager Patrick Lefevere. “Unfortunatley, Wouter was not on the list of 15 riders that was initially submitted to the ASO, so he can’t take the start. However we have loads of confidence in Francesco and his athletic freshness.”
“We’re absolutely sure that Francesco will prove his worth during the race,” added sports director Wilfried Peeters. “We’re starting out with an aggressive team made up of experienced riders who have already ridden on the roads of the Grande Boucle, supported by a very motivated group of young riders. We’re definitively counting on standing out in the stages in which we do best, and we’ll be pushing for at least a partial success.”
Revised Quick Step team for the Tour de France:
Carlos Barredo, Sylvain Chavanel, Dries Devenyns, Kevin De Weert, Jerome Pineau, Francesco Reda, Kevin Seeldrayers, Jurgen Van de Walle, Maarten Wynants.