Alberto Contador keeping a close eye on the 2012 season
Alberto Contador is currently serving a two-year ban from professional cycling and is expected to return to the sport by August 5, 2012.
He served the ban period and is now warming up to join the peloton. The cyclist’s first race after the suspension will be the Eneco Tour and he is positive to regain his lost glory at the race.
Alberto told Eurosport, "My days are full. I train maybe even more than usual as I have to compensate for the lack of races”.
“In a squad you can sometimes relax, but when you train on your own you must always work hard”.
“I miss the competition enormously. Of course I like bikes anyway, but it is the competition that drives me. I need it".
The cyclist also admitted that he has been closely following the 2012 season on television which has boosted his motivation level and also helped him with the tactical information on his rivals.
“Training of course has priority, but if I can, I follow the races on television," he briefed.
The 29-year-old noted that Tom Boonen and Simon Gerrans both are having a superb season and he will keep a close eye on the duo for the coming season.
“Gerrans has also been impressive. Furthermore, Leipheimer took a very high level. It was too bad he broke his fibula in the Basque Country".
Alberto was accused of using performance enhancing drugs during the Tour de France 2010 and the case was forwarded to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The jury was convinced that the cyclist used unfair means to enhance his performance at the 2010 version of the French race and handed him a two-year ban.
The ban prohibits him from riding all the important races of the season including the 2012 Olympic Games, the Vuelta a Espana and the Giro d’ Italia.
The judges also disqualified him from all the victories since the 2010 edition of the French Grand Tour.
It will be interesting to see, if the Spaniard can continue the 2012 season with the same form that earned him the second overall spot at the 2011 UCI Elite Men category.
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