First Race Back For Contador

Last updated : 07 August 2012 By Kev Monks

Alberto Contador starts his first race back this afternoon when he competes in the Eneco Tour.

The 29 year old Saxo Bank rider was stripped of his 2010 Tour de France victory and banned for two years after testing positive for clenbuterol.

Contador rides in the race which starts in Holland with a 203.9km stage from Waalwijk to Middelburg but feels he has nothing to prove, telling reports at a press conference: : "Absolutely not, I just want to enjoy myself. 

"And I am enjoying myself a lot in training, sacrificing myself to be in the best possible shape and I hope to continue enjoying myself and that the results will come.
 
"The most difficult time was the last two years because everything possible was said about me without any limits.

"Thankfully I have my family and friends. Thanks to them I did not have to seek professional help. They were the ones keeping my spirits up."

In a strong field, there will be a number of British riders involved. Tour De France stage winner David Millar will captain the Garmin-Sharp side whilst Jeremy Hunt, Alex Dowsett and Luke Rowe go for Team Sky with Adam Blythe included in the BMC line up..

The race is being shown live on Eurosport 2 all week.