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It looks like Spyns Tour de France clients will have to wait at least another month to see if the 2011 Tour de France will see another monumental battle between Andy Schleck and Alberto Contador!
The three-time Tour de France winner's positive test for clenbuterol at last year's Tour has still not been resolved. He is listed as riding for Saxo Bank this season, but whether he will ever pin a number on and race is uncertain.
The Spanish Cycling Federation (RFEC) is still chewing over the bones of Contador's defence that he ate tainted beef and could choose leniency.
If that happened, though, the World Anti-Doping Agency and world cycling's governing body the UCI would want to take the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, looking for a two-year ban.
Like his compatriot Alejandro Valverde - who rode on for nearly three years before having his ban ratified in May 2010 - Contador could continue to ride on as the wheels of justice slowly turn.
Alberto Contador remains fully motivated despite his concerns over his provisional suspension and the threat of him missing the Tour de France, Saxo Bank team boss Bjarne Riis said on Wednesday.
"He (Contador) is scared but he is still extremely motivated by his job," Riis told Reuters in an interview at the season-opening Tour Down Under.
"During the pre-season camp, he was already way ahead of his team mates in the climbs. I know his lawyers built him the best possible defence."
Contador, who switched from Astana to Saxo Bank after winning the Tour last July, has been suspended since August pending a Spanish federation's (RFEC) ruling on his failed test. He has repeatedly said he is innocent.
"We are worried and we have been doing our best to protect him. We did all we could to sign the best rider in the world and I cannot imagine that he is not going to wear the Saxo Bank jersey," said Riis, who won the Tour in 1996 before admitting years later that he had used performance enhancing drugs.
A ruling by the RFEC is not expected before next month and the procedure could drag on as either the Spaniard or the UCI or the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) are likely to appeal the decision -- either because it will be seen as too harsh or too soft.
McQuaid told Reuters last week Contador was likely to miss the 2011 Tour because of the ongoing process.
"It's pure speculation," said Riis. "Of course, they found clenbuterol in his system but the concentration was infinitesimal.
"He did not win the Tour de France thanks to this. It's even surprising that it appeared only one day (in his system)."
Riis refuses to consider the 2011 season with Contador out of the picture.
"I don't want to think about it. For the moment we work normally, as if his season was about to start," he explained.
Riis's outfit was subject to many changes during the off-season, with the Schleck brothers and Swiss Fabian Cancellara having left to be part of the Luxembourg riders' new team, Leopard-Trek.
"Some 17 to 20 people left Saxo Bank," said Riis.
"I now have a team that is less strong but it is still a nice team. (Australian) Richie Porte is a huge talent and will be a Tour de France protagonist in one or two years."
Until then, Riis has to rely on Contador -- if he can make it to the Tour de France.
Spyns Tours and TDF Tours specialize in Tour de France packages for both riders, non-riders, and mixed tours. Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2011 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2011 Tour de France tours, please visit http://www.tdf-tours.com/ http://www.spyns.com/ or call 1.888.825.4720.
The three-time Tour de France winner's positive test for clenbuterol at last year's Tour has still not been resolved. He is listed as riding for Saxo Bank this season, but whether he will ever pin a number on and race is uncertain.
The Spanish Cycling Federation (RFEC) is still chewing over the bones of Contador's defence that he ate tainted beef and could choose leniency.
If that happened, though, the World Anti-Doping Agency and world cycling's governing body the UCI would want to take the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, looking for a two-year ban.
Like his compatriot Alejandro Valverde - who rode on for nearly three years before having his ban ratified in May 2010 - Contador could continue to ride on as the wheels of justice slowly turn.
Alberto Contador remains fully motivated despite his concerns over his provisional suspension and the threat of him missing the Tour de France, Saxo Bank team boss Bjarne Riis said on Wednesday.
"He (Contador) is scared but he is still extremely motivated by his job," Riis told Reuters in an interview at the season-opening Tour Down Under.
"During the pre-season camp, he was already way ahead of his team mates in the climbs. I know his lawyers built him the best possible defence."
Contador, who switched from Astana to Saxo Bank after winning the Tour last July, has been suspended since August pending a Spanish federation's (RFEC) ruling on his failed test. He has repeatedly said he is innocent.
"We are worried and we have been doing our best to protect him. We did all we could to sign the best rider in the world and I cannot imagine that he is not going to wear the Saxo Bank jersey," said Riis, who won the Tour in 1996 before admitting years later that he had used performance enhancing drugs.
A ruling by the RFEC is not expected before next month and the procedure could drag on as either the Spaniard or the UCI or the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) are likely to appeal the decision -- either because it will be seen as too harsh or too soft.
McQuaid told Reuters last week Contador was likely to miss the 2011 Tour because of the ongoing process.
"It's pure speculation," said Riis. "Of course, they found clenbuterol in his system but the concentration was infinitesimal.
"He did not win the Tour de France thanks to this. It's even surprising that it appeared only one day (in his system)."
Riis refuses to consider the 2011 season with Contador out of the picture.
"I don't want to think about it. For the moment we work normally, as if his season was about to start," he explained.
Riis's outfit was subject to many changes during the off-season, with the Schleck brothers and Swiss Fabian Cancellara having left to be part of the Luxembourg riders' new team, Leopard-Trek.
"Some 17 to 20 people left Saxo Bank," said Riis.
"I now have a team that is less strong but it is still a nice team. (Australian) Richie Porte is a huge talent and will be a Tour de France protagonist in one or two years."
Until then, Riis has to rely on Contador -- if he can make it to the Tour de France.
Spyns Tours and TDF Tours specialize in Tour de France packages for both riders, non-riders, and mixed tours. Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2011 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2011 Tour de France tours, please visit http://www.tdf-tours.com/ http://www.spyns.com/ or call 1.888.825.4720.
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