Alberto Contador danger in of missing the second consecutive Tour de France
With Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank still not sure of its World Tour status, there is a possibility that we might have to watch the Tour de France without one of the best stage race cyclist, Alberto Contador for the second consecutive year.
All the World Tour teams receive an automatic invitation for all the major cycling events across the season, whereas the Professional-Continental teams have to rely on a wild-card invitation.
UCI is taking its time in finalising the final World Tour teams for the new season and will chose three teams out of Team Argos-Shimano, Team Lotto Belisol, Team FDJ, Team Europcar and Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank to enjoy the top level of the sport.
The Spaniard had the opportunity to change his team after he returned from serving a two-year ban for using clenbuterol at the Tour de France 2010 but he opted to continue for the Danish side.
The ban prevented him from riding all the major cycling races of the season including the Tour de France, the Giro d’ Italia and the 2012 Olympic Games.
“I would love to do the Tour obviously. I missed it this year. But if I only find out two months before, then I won't [be there]. I need enough time to prepare. Otherwise I won't be a part of it".
While commenting on the matter, Tour de France organisers, ASO spokesman Fabrice Tiano noted that Contador’s inclusion totally depends on whether or not UCI grants a World Tour status to Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank and the firm will not make any changes to its wild card distributions.
“We cannot say too much right now, because it is up to the UCI, whether Alberto Contador's team gets a license and thus an automatic invitation, but we will not change our distribution of wild cards to give special consideration to Alberto Contador”.
After missing all the major cycling races in the 2012 season, the Spaniard is desperate to ride his favourite race of the season, the Tour de France.
The only Grand Tour he managed to participate this season, was the Vuelta a Espana and he managed to claim an overall victory at the Spanish three-week race.
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