Contador wins Giro but uncertain about Tour

CYCLING: Alberto Contador promptly voiced doubts about his plans for the Tour de France after claiming his second Giro d'Italia yesterday (AEST).

ALBERTOContador promptly voiced doubts about his plans for the Tour de France after claiming his second Giro d'Italia yesterday (AEST).

The Spaniard, riding for the Saxo Bank team, won the title as Scot David Millar won the final stage time trial in Milan.

But 28-year-old Contador, entering the Giro in the shadow of a doping controversy from last year's Tour de France, refused to even confirm if he would try to compete in the French event in 2011.

"The Tour? We shall have to see . . . how I am going to recuperate, evaluate the extent to which I have recuperated. I have to speak about it with my sporting director and my team," Contador said.

"Right now I am tired and I would like to profit from my victory."

Contador would be chasing his fourth Tour title if he does compete and could become the first man to complete a Giro-Tour double since late Italian rider Marco Pantani in 1998.

For now he can bask in the moment, but he could yet have his aura punctured if the Court of Arbitration for Sport finds against him in his doping saga.

The case was due to be heard over three days in Lausanne from June 6-8 in order to have the decision before the start of this year's Tour de France on July 2.

But the court announced last Thursday that it had postponed the hearing indefinitely to allow further preparation and to help guarantee the appearance of witnesses and experts.

The World Anti-Doping Agency and world cycling's governing body (UCI) are appealing the Spanish Cycling Federation's (RFEC) decision to acquit Contador over a failed doping case.

Contador, who placed third on the final stage, tested positive for a tiny amount of the banned muscle-building substance clenbuterol during last July's Tour, which he went on to win.

He was cleared to compete in the Giro when the RFEC rescinded an initial decision of a one-year competition ban, accepting the rider's claim that he had unknowingly consumed drug-contaminated meat and was therefore not negligent.

"This is my best Giro. It seems an easy victory but it isn't. It required a lot of work," he said.

Home racer Michele Scarponi took second place overall, more than five minutes behind Contador after a gruelling 3265km from the start in Turin on May 7. Another Italian, Vincenzo Nibali, was third.

AFP