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Schleck takes no joy from Contador decision

ESPN staff
February 7, 2012
Andy Schleck wants to win a Tour de France fair and square © Getty Images
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Andy Schleck has insisted he is still looking for his first Tour de France title, despite inheriting the 2010 yellow jersey after rival Alberto Contador was banned on Monday.

Contador saw his general classification victory from 18 months ago stripped from him after the Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld Contador's ban for a doping offence.

The Spaniard defeated Schleck by just 39 seconds in the 2010 Tour - a controversial victory after Contador accrued a 39-second advantage on stage 15 after making a break while his rival struggled with a broken chain - but the Luxembourg rider insists he takes no satisfaction from the court's decision.

"I feel sad for Alberto, I have always believed in his innocence," said Schleck. "The only positive is that there is finally a verdict after 566 days of uncertainty. Now we can move on. I trust that the CAS judges took all things into consideration after reading the 4,000-page file.

"If now I am declared winner of the 2010 Tour de France it will not make me happy. I battled with Contador in that race and I lost. My goal is to win the Tour de France in a sporting way, being the best of all competitors, not in court.

"If I succeed this year I will consider it my first Tour de France victory."

Contador's ban runs until August 6, meaning he will not be able to compete in either this year's Tour or London 2012. He has 30 days to appeal the decision, however.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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