Cycling: Contador is gearing up

Alberto Contador has set his sights on returning to action at this summer’s Vuelta a Espana after giving up the legal challenge against his doping ban.

The 29-year-old Spaniard, winner of the Tour de France in 2007 and 2009 but stripped of his victory in 2010 after testing positive for clenbuterol, will be free to compete again when his two-year suspension ends on 6 August.

“I want to be in the biggest competitions,” he said. “The Vuelta will be the axis of the end of the season and then come the world championships. I want to be there.”

Contador has not challenged the sanction imposed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, and also ruled out the possibility of another appeal to the European Court of Human Rights.

“After talking with lawyers, they tell me they see very little future,” he said.