FARO, Portugal: Tour de France champion Alberto Contador was back on his bike at the Tour of the Algarve Wednesday, a day after escaping a doping ban. “It's a big relief not just for me but also for the team and the sponsors,” said Contador, who is competing in his first race with new team Saxo Bank-Sunguard. “The truth is I am really happy to be here.” Contador, the two-time defending champion of the five-stage race through southern Portugal, wasted no time in getting back to competition after the Spanish cycling federation reversed a proposed one-year ban Tuesday. Contador tested positive for banned substance clenbuterol at last year's Tour. The Spanish cyclist was greeted with applause by spectators ahead of the 157.5-kilometer first stage. Contador, who said he failed the doping test after unintentionally eating contaminated meat, has been cleared to race pending any appeal rulings from the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The International Cycling Union has 30 days from the date of the decision to appeal to CAS, while the World Anti-Doping Agency has an extra 21 days after that. “I can't say at the moment what we are going to do until we study what is there in the full dossier,” UCI president Pat McQuaid said from Oman. “What the reasoning was or what the motivation was for the decision was made. (If) we feel the decision is justified, we leave it (at) that. If we feel it's not justified then we appeal to CAS.” If Contador does get banned upon appeal, all results incurred over the time he competes would be wiped out. Contador said he planned to race for his second Giro d'Italia title this year. The 28-year-old Spaniard also plans to race in the Tour of Murcia, Vuelta de Catalunya, Vuelta Castilla Leon and another classic before the Giro in May. Any possible appeals process could drag until June, with the Tour starting on July 2. Contador believes “irreparable” damage has been done to his reputation despite being cleared of doping. “It's been an incredible number of weeks and months that I wouldn't wish on absolutely anybody – you'd have to have lived these past months to know how it feels. “The truth is the damage done to your image is irreparable, with all the stupidities that are said about you.”
