BANYOLES, Spain (AP) — Alberto Contador is in ninth place in the Volta of Catalunya, with cycling’s governing body close to ruling whether to appeal a decision that cleared him of doping.
The Tour de France champion tested positive for clenbuterol but was later cleared of wrongdoing by the Spanish cycling federation. The International Cycling Union will decide by Thursday whether to challenge the decision.
Italy’s Alessandro Petacchi won Tuesday’s second stage of the Volta of Catalunya. The 37-year-old Lampre rider finished the 105-mile ride from Santa Coloma de Farners to Banyoles in 4 hours, 11 minutes, 8 seconds.
Latvia’s Gatis Smukulis of HTC-Highroad leads the overall standings.
