Written by: Justin Davis (AFP)

LES HERBIERS, France, June 30, 2011 – Tour de France champion Alberto Contador said Thursday he would find it “ridiculous” if he were to win this year’s race then be stripped of the title by the authorities.

Contador is bidding to win a fourth yellow jersey after being cleared of any wrongdoing by the Spanish cycling authorities in February despite a positive test for clenbuterol on the second rest day of last year’s race.

The Spaniard’s claim that he ingested the banned substance while eating a contaminated steak was not, however, accepted by the International Cycling Union (UCI) or the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

Both have appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) which, after initially declaring the case would be resolved before the start of the July 2-24 race, will not deliberate until August.

Contador, who is the overall favorite ahead of Luxembourg’s Andy Schleck, is now legally free to race.

But in the event the CAS upholds the UCI/WADA appeal, Contador could be stripped of all his victories since and including last year’s yellow jersey triumph — and victory this year if he is successful.

A drawn-looking Contador — who last month won his second Giro d’Italia title — appeared to believe that will not happen.

“The idea that victory could be taken away from me afterwards if I win this race, I just find ridiculous,” said Contador.

“From the beginning of the season I’ve been the rider who’s had the most doping tests, and I’ve been tested in all the races in which I’ve participated — most of which I’ve won.

“And I’m sure I will be the most tested during the race as well.”

After nearly a year of dealing with the media fallout of his positive test, revealed after trace elements of clenbuterol were found in a sample, Contador said his only way of shouldering the burden was to stay focused on his big objective.

“I’m very conscious of the fact there has been more pressure on me off the bike, but all I can try and do is fully concentrate on the race,” he added.

“I have to try not to lose focus and get on with what needs to be done to win.”

Contador and Saxo Bank team manager Bjarne Riis fielded all of the questions here Thursday, highlighting the interest in a case the authorities have spectacularly failed to resolve before the world’s premier cycling event.

Riis, who won the Tour in 1996 only to admit several years ago that he was doping, called for Contador to be allowed to race in peace.

“Everybody would love to have had a solution a while ago, but it hasn’t happened,” said Riis.

“Those are the rules and we have to accept the rules. That’s the way the system works and we have to respect it as it is.

“Alberto has been cleared by the system, and he has every right to race. We will continue to support him and that’s why he is riding this Tour de France.

“I don’t see why he should be suspended if he has been cleared, for the simple reason that we don’t think it’s fair. That’s why he’s here.”