MADRID, April 4, 2010 (AFP) – Controversial Spanish ace Alejandro Valverde saddles up for the 50th Tour of the Basque Country Monday hoping to benefit from the absence of two-time defending champion Alberto Contador.

Valverde, who rides for Caisse d’Epargne, is a big favorite for the 900km race alongside compatriots Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel), Joaquin Rodriguez (Katusha), Luxembourg’s Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank) and Italian Damiano Cunego (Lampre).

However cycling’s top men at the International Cycling Union (UCI) will also take a scant interest in how Valverde fares — given they are hoping to extend an Italy-wide doping ban worldwide in the coming weeks.

Valverde is currently banned from racing in Italy until May 10, 2011 due to an Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) ban handed down after CONI said a blood sample taken from Valverde during the Tour de France, when it passed through Italy in 2008, matched DNA from a blood bag seized during the Spain’s ‘Operation Puerto’ doping scandal that erupted in May 2006.

CONI’s decision forced Valverde out of racing the 2009 Tour de France because it made a brief foray into Italy, and that ban was confirmed on appeal by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) two weeks ago.

Cycling chiefs are waiting for CAS to rule on a UCI appeal — protesting the fact the Spanish cycling federation did not open disciplinary proceedings against Valverde — before deciding whether to extend his ban worldwide.

The Spaniard meanwhile continues to race, outside Italy, and is looking forward to the six-stage race in the hilly Basque country, which could be spared the usual spells of rain.

“It’s a really attractive course, and it looks as though the weather could be with us as well,” said Valverde, who on Saturday finished runner-up to Rodriguez in the Grand Prix Miguel Indurain, held over 179km in Estella.

“That (result) has given me a solid base for the next week, and I’ll be trying to give it my very best.”

Rodriguez is one of the form Spanish riders of the moment, having won the 90th Tour of Catalunya last month.

After five days of attacking and chasing in the hills, victory could finally come down to the last stage time trial, a 22km ride around Orio on Saturday.

Stages (Monday through Saturday):
1: Zierbena – Zierbena (152 km)
2: Zierbena – Viana (217 km)
3: Viana – Amurrio (187 km)
4: Murgia Zuia – Eibar (160 km)
5: Eibar – Orio (170 km)
6: Orio – Orio (22 km time trial)