Alberto Contador absent at Tour de France presentation
Alberto Contador, winner of the previous two Tours, was absent from the unveiling of the 2011 Tour de France in Paris on Tuesday, in light of the recent doping scandal weighing on the champion’s shoulders. Runner-up Andy Schleck was present and it is possible,
depending on the outcome of Contador’s case, that Schleck could be retroactively named the winner of the 2010 Tour, though the Luxembourg rider was hesitant to say so.
“This Tour is finished and I was second on the podium in Paris and that’s it,” said Schleck. “It’s important for cycling to have a quick answer on that matter and it’s important for him as well but not for me.”
27-year-old Contador failed a blood test taken on the second rest day of the Tour. If he is dealt with a doping ban, it will officially nullify any results achieved since the date of the test, including his Tour victory.
"I had a long talk with Alberto Contador, and he actually sounded very optimistic," said Bjarne Riis, the Spaniard’s new boss at Saxo Bank. "I still believe that Alberto is innocent and I think it will be a terrible injustice if he is convicted."
Saxo Bank confirmed that they will continue to sponsor the team whether or not Contador is competing with them in 2011. However, the team, which hosted Schleck in his second-place finish this year, won’t have a contender for the Tour de France without the
Spaniard. Schleck will be riding for a new Luxembourg-based team.
“I hope that Alberto will be at the start next year,” said Schleck. “I want to compete against the best riders in the world. However, the Tour de France isn’t only about Alberto and myself. There are about fifteen riders who can win it.”
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