Provisionally cleared of doping Alberto Contador said he has fixed the Giro d’Italia as his first major objective of the season with an eye on a bid for a fourth Tour de France title later in the summer.
Contador tested positive for traces of the banned muscle-building substance clenbuterol during last July’s Tour de France, which he won, but was cleared last month by the Spanish cycling federation who accepted his claim that he ate contaminated meat.
“The Giro d’Italia (May 7-29) is my first big objective,” said Contador, who won his first ever Tour of Murcia yesterday. It was the Saxo Bank rider’s second race of the season after finishing fourth in the Tour of the Algarve last month.
“I’ve seen the (Giro) stages on the internet. It’s tough. There isn’t one standout stage, there are six! But the Tour de France (July 2-24) remains in my plans. If I can, I’ll race it.”
The Spaniard must still wait to see whether the International Cycling Union (UCI) and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to have the Spanish cycling federation’s judgement overturned.
But he insists he is recovering from the trauma of his positive test.
“I’ve gone through a difficult time... people said nasty things, stupid things in the media,” he said.
“But I have a lot to thank my fans for, without them maybe nothing would have been resolved. They forced me to clear up the situation. I don’t think I can be as I was before, I’ve suffered a lot and now I’m more reserved, I’m more careful.”
The UCI and WADA have until March 15 to decide whether to appeal to CAS.
And Contador said: “I’d like them to carefully read the complete (Spanish cycling federation) file without any preconceived idea and without giving in to pressure. I believe in the system and they should believe in it too.”
In the coming months he plans to compete in the Tour of Catalonia, Tour of Castilla and Leon and Fleche Wallonne before the Giro.
Contador secured his Tour of Murcia title yesterday after winning the third and final stage, a 12.4km time-trial. He had set up his overall victory with a stunning win in the second stage on Saturday.
Contador, who finished third in the 2008 race, timed 14min 10sec in the time-trial to finish eight seconds ahead of Frenchman Jerome Coppel who also finished second in the overall standings.