Davis rewarded with Vuelta spot?

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Allan Davis will contest the Vuelta a España this month as a reward for his professionalism during July, when he was drafted in – then back out of – Quick Step’s Tour de France roster at the last minute. Team boss Patrick Lefevere will let the Australian rider contest his second Grand Tour as a reward for his handling of July’s saga, according to Wielerland.nl.

Davis is currently in strong form, finishing fourth in the sprint at Saturday’s Vattenfall Cyclassics in Hamburg. Team-mate Tom Boonen, who is also expected to start the Vuelta, finished back in 46th place.

Davis was a last minute call-up for the Belgian squad at the Tour, even taking part in the team’s presentation in Monaco leading up to the race. Davis’ call in was a result of questions hanging over Boonen’s participation, following another positive test for recreational drugs.

Boonen was forced to miss the previous year’s Tour due to a separate positive test, also for recreational drugs. The Belgian sprinter accepted the organiser’s calls in 2008 to not take part in the event but when requested to stay away from the 2009 edition lawyers reviewed the situation, finding Boonen had the right to start at the eleventh hour and he subsequently took back his original spot on the team from Davis.

Davis started his season off strong at home by winning the Tour Down Under. The victory at the season’s first ProTour race saw the rider hold the series lead for a relatively long period.

The 64th Vuelta starts on August 29 in the Netherlands, the first time the opening stage has been held outside of Spain in 12 years.

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