Tour: Reda replaces Boonen
06/2010
Team Quick Step has announced that the Italian Francesco Reda will be the ninth rider on the team participating in this year’s Tour de France. Francesco Reda, born in 1982, has been with Team Quick Step since last season. Although he's a good “finisseur”, Francesco started the season with a fractured clavicle from a fall in the Tirreno-Adriatico. After two experiences in the Giro d’Italia, Reda will be making his debut in the Grande Boucle.
“Wouter Weylandt, with his skills as a sprinter would have been a natural substitute for Tom Boonen – Team Manager Patrick Lefevere said - 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.”
“I’m very excited – says 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. During my career I’ve already participated in the Giro 2 times; the Grande Boucle is one of the great stage race 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.”
“We’re absolutely sure that Francesco will prove his worth during the race - explains 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.”