Francesco Reda of Team IDEA 2010 ASD in the yellow jersey on stage 2 of the Rás before his disqualification from the race (Photo: Paul Mohan - Sportsfile)
Having reacted with fury on the podium in Tipperary after stage 2 of the Rás to the news that its rider Francesco Reda had been ejected from the race, the Team IDEA 2010 ASD has made a number of statements on social media.
Reda punctured on the road today not far from the climb of Aherlow, which was crested with just 8km remaining to the finish of the 137.2km stage from Carlow into Tipperary.
In a series of posts on Twitter and Facebook, his team reacted with incredulity to the news their stage 1 winner was out.
They also expressed hope the decision may be overturned and then gave their version of accounts, suggesting Reda had punctured and been given a wheel by a team mate, only for it to pull over and necessitate another stop.
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Some of the posts commended Bryan McCrystal for his lone escape that just came up short.
They then confirm the bunch is all together going into the closing kilometres, that An Post-Chainreaction's Aaron Gate took the stage and that Reda had retained his yellow jersey.
It then reports with excitement its rider Davide
There is no mention of Reda's mechanical issues or any warning or communication from the commissaries.
However, after the posts reporting how the race is going, the tone changes pretty quickly.
"A decision incredible ruin the day," said the first tweet revealing the first sign of problems for Reda, who has just returned from a ban for missing drug testing.
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It was followed by: "You can understand the surprise for a decision so huge. We are waiting for information and a possible repentance in the decision."
And then: "Before the ascent of Aherlow Francesco Reda has suffered a blowout as others of our own.
"David Viganò has past the wheel but in a hurry is probably been mounted badly. The wheel was then stuck right on the hill and from there was born the interpretation of the jury.
"Both Reda that Viganò are then returned, piazzandosi respectively sixth and third.
"The disqualification has been communicated to Reda irritualmente just after the finish line.
"Our leadership is now considering the regulation and Alberto Elli is at work to request a review of the decision.
"We are sorry also for some messages really free and out of place that appear on social, posted by pseudo-sporting.
Efforts by stickybottle to get reaction from the team in the shape of a post-race interview were not successful.
