Wiggins critical of Contador’s Tour de France plan

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TOP THREE WINNERS: Wiggins (centre) celebrates on the podium, flanked by Australian Cadel Evans (right) and Kazakh Alexandre Vinokourov (left) at the end of the seventh and last stage of the 63rd edition of the Dauphine Criterium cycling race run between Pontcharra and La Toussuire. — AFP photo

LA TOUSSUIRE, France: British rider Bradley Wiggins believes that defending champion Alberto Contador’s presence in this year’s Tour de France is bad for cycling.

Contador tested positive for the banned substance clenbuterol during last year’s victory but the Spaniard blamed contaminated meat.

He was subsequently cleared by the Spanish cycling federation and, although he still remains under investigation, he has been cleared to take part in this year’s race.

“Personally, I am happy that he is there as it means that Saxo Bank will be doing everything to help him win,” said the 31-year-old Wiggins after completing victory on Sunday in the Criterium du Dauphine.

“Sportswise, though, it is not a good thing that a bloke who tested positive four times is in the race.

“It is also bad for all those teams that are fighting to be clean as is the case with my team, Sky.”

Contador tested positive on the second rest day of last year’s Tour and in tests in the days that followed in decreasing amounts.

In spite of the four positive tests, however, it is treated as a single incident of doping by the relevant authorities.

The three-time Tour winner was cleared in mid-February by the Spanish federation although is subject to an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport by the International Cycling Union and the World Anti-Doping Agency.

Judgement is not due until after this year’s Tour.

Contador, who won the Giro d’Italia last month, announced on Saturday that he would be competing for a fourth victory in the Tour de France which starts on July 2. — AFP