25th June 2010 – Bad news for Team QUICK STEP. Because of a patellar tendinitis on his left knee, Tom Boonen will not take part in next Sunday’s National Championship and in the next Tour de France.

The decision was taken this afternoon together with the medical staff after further medical checks at the clinic of Herentals.
Tom Boonen will have to respect a period of rest of two weeks and undergo specific treatment for the knee.

“I’m very sad – said Tom Boonen – After three days of rest, yesterday I trained for five hours on the parcour of the National Championship in Leuven. The knee pain has always accompanied me. During the last hour of training I had to stop more than once because of the pain. Everything is began with the crash in California and the situation became even worse after the fall in Switzerland.

I’m very sad for me, for the team and the sponsors and for all the fans who were waiting for me on the roads especially in the passage trough Belgium. My next goal now is to work 100% to recover well and try to make a good final of the season.”

“It’s really a terrible news for us – Team Manager Patrick Lefevere said – The Tour passes through the Netherlands and Belgium. The team will ride for four days on the roads near home. Even the stage of Arenberg was very important for us considering the characteristics of our team and the palmares of Boonen on the cobblestones races.

But we can’t stop, life goes on. I’m sure the team that will participate in the Tour will do the best even without Tom. The negative moments often open up many opportunities. ”

The ninth QUICK STEP rider for the Tour will be announced on Monday the 28th of June, after the National Championships.