Alberto Contador started the Eneco Tour slowly and watchfully
Alberto Contador has returned to competitive cycling after facing a two-year ban for doping at the Tour de France 2010.
The cyclist is currently seen in action at the Eneco Tour where he is striving to find the right form just ahead of the third and the last Grand Tour race of the season, the Vuelta a Espana 2012.
The ban stops Contador from riding all the major cycling events of the season including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia and the 2012 Olympic Games.
The 29-year-old has started the Eneco Tour slowly but watchfully in order to ensure his peak form ahead of his home Grand Tour.
"I had a pretty good feeling, considering that it was not the best day to debut, with more than 200 kilometres, rain, wind and all flat," he said at the finish.
The Spaniard has returned to Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank and Team Director Fabrizio Guidi has explained that taking minimal risks is the team’s top priority at the event.
“The riders were working brilliantly as a team and Alberto seems as strong and determined as ever”.
“Tomorrow, we hope for a very good result on the team time trial and we have to put in a 100 percent effort in order to deliver just that," he concluded.
Alberto finished the opening 203.9 kilometre stage of the Eneco Tour at the 109th position and claimed the 50th position during the team’s time trial stage 2 of the event.
He currently holds the 47th overall position after the stage 2 classifications and a subtle improvement has been observed in his performance during the second day of the race.
Contador plays an important role in Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank’s squad and his best form is crucial for the team to jump up the team’s classifications rankings.
Almost 70 % of the total points earned by the Danish side came through the strong legs of Alberto and Bjarne Riis and the new sponsor is heavily relying on him for the Vuelta a Espana 2012.
The Spanish Grand Tour is scheduled from August 18 to September 9 and the top three finishers will receive a 170, 130 and 100 points respectively.
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