With the final decision in his CAS appeal now not scheduled until the week of January 31st, Alberto Contador now has no obstacle to racing this month. His Saxo Bank team has confirmed to VeloNation that the Spaniard will travel to the Tour de San Luis as planned, and will line out on day one of the 2.1-ranked race on Monday.
According to the provisional startlist, he will be joined by Jesus Hernandez, Juan Jose Haedo, Lucas Sebastian Haedo, Matteo Tosatto, Troels Roenning and Christopher Juul Jensen.
The race has attracted a strong field, with riders such as Tom Boonen and Levi Leipheimer (Omega Pharma-Quick Step), Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas Cannondale), Giovanni Visconti (Movistar), Filippo Pozzato (Farnese Vini – Selle Italia), Jose Serpa and Emanuele Sella (Androni Giocattoli) set to start.
Contador’s participation sees him begin his season earlier than in 2011, when he was unable to race until after the Spanish federation RFEC cleared him of his Clenbuterol positive. He started then in the Volta ao Algarve on February 16th.
WADA and the UCI subsequently appealed that RFEC decision and set in motion the CAS hearing which eventually took place in November.
If Contador is cleared, he will be able to race even if WADA or the UCI appeal that decision to the Swiss courts. However if CAS decides to hand him a suspension, he will immediately have to cease competition, even if he seeks to appeal.
Decision permitting, he has said that his season goal is to return to the top step of the podium in the Tour de France. He finished back in fifth in 2011, being fatigued after winning the Giro d’Italia.