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Vuelta says Astaná welcome

Published: Feb. 13, 2008
Vuelta race director Victor Cordero says Astaná is welcome at his event
Vuelta race director Victor Cordero says Astaná is welcome at his event
Photo: AFP

Alberto Contador and his Astaná teammates might not be racing in July, but Vuelta a España officials were quick to say that the team is welcome in the season’s final grand tour.

Vuelta director Victor Cordero told the Spanish wire agency EFE that the Spanish tour will not follow the lead taken by the Giro d’Italia and the Tour to exclude Astaná and said he hopes to see the team for the Vuelta start in Granada on Aug. 30.

“Contador deserves to be in all the races in the world and for me he is an example for the future,” Cordero said. “The Vuelta left out Astaná last year when they didn’t deserve our confidence, but this confidence has been renewed and the teams that don’t have a problem with doping we are going to invite to the Vuelta. Contador and Astaná will be in the Vuelta because they have a sporting interest.”

As Cordero mentioned, Astaná was left out of last year’s edition when 2006 winner Alexander Vinokourov tested positive for homologous blood doping during the 2007 Tour.