Turin, Italy (NEWSTABULOUS) – Tour de France champion, Alberto Contador, will begin as the “favorite” as the Giro d’Italia 2011 starts on Saturday in Turin.
In the past, Contador won the Giro in the one year – 2008, that he participated. He is entering this race with a controversial cloud over his head and no surprises.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), has yet to hand down a decision to the Spaniard, which might overturn a previous decision that cleared him of wrongdoing after a test for clenbuterol gave positive results, at Tour de France last year.
Contador says that the positive result was due to eating contaminated meat, which excuse was accepted by Spanish authorities, but was difficult to accept by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and International Cycling Union (UC). The final decision was appealed by these agencies, to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Spain, which will rule in June as to if Contador will be banned for a period of two years or not.
Contador has demonstrated that he is the man to beat in the Grand Tours race and the one-week stage races. He will defend his record of having no losses in any Grand Tours races in which he has competed for 5 years.
After his success riding in 2007 for Discovery Channel, Contador’s team was banned from Tour de France in 2008 after Alexandre Vinokourov tested positive for blood doping. Instead, in 2008 Contador put all his efforts into the Tour of Spain and Giro, both of which he won even though he was a last minute call up for the Italian race. He said:
“In 2008, I knew absolutely nothing about the Giro…This year, on the other hand, I know the riders that are going, I know the route, and I’ve been able to do tailor-made preparations for the Giro.”
Since twice winning the Tour de France and in spite of the continued controversy over his 2010 positive drug test, he is expected to be a major leader on some of the numerous climbs of the race. Contador claims he is working for the victory and the pressure will be on Italian rivals, Michele Scarponi and Vincenzo Nibali.
The course has 2 individual time trials featured on the course – one will be a mountain time-trial and the other 31.5 km. Contador admitted:
“I’ve never seen such a hard course.”
The other rivals are Tour de France champion 2008, Carlos Sastre of Spain – Geo team, and Russian – Denis Menchov, winner in 2009, but he didn’t compete in 2010.
Also looking to win are Igor Anton and Joaquin Rodriguez, as well as Roman Kreuziger.
The best of luck to Alberto Contador!
photo:bicycle.net
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