Alberto Contador has made the Tour de France and Olympic time trial his priorities in 2012 – despite a nervous wait before the outcome of his Court of Arbitration for Sport hearing is announced.
- Alberto Contador will find out in January whether he can race in 2012
Contador’s four-day hearing took place last week but the three-time Tour de France champion will not find out until January whether he will be suspended or can continue racing.
The 28-year-old refused to answer questions about the case at Saxo Bank’s team presentation, and is quoted as saying: “That’s something that happened last week. Now I am completely focused on this and nothing else.”
Contador won every Grand Tour he entered from July 2007 before finishing fifth at the 2011 Tour de France having previously won a gruelling Giro d’Italia less than two months previously.
It was Contador’s second Giro title having first won the Italian Grand Tour in 2008 but the Spaniard ruled out going for the Giro-Tour double in 2012 and instead set his sights on winning against the clock in London.
“I want to go for the Tour all out because last year after the Giro I was exhausted,” said Contador.
“After the Tour I think I will do the Olympic time trial, although it is too early to know for sure and the route is better suited to other riders. I don’t rule out the Vuelta, there’s a big chance of that.”
And Contador insists Saxo Bank have the firepower to support his ambitions despite losing Richie Porte to Team Sky.
“It’s a really, really good team,” said Contador. “I have 100 per cent confidence in them all. I am sure that this year will be a very good year for the team. We know the importance of a good programme for the Grand Tours. I am confident that we will be very strong in all races.”
