Alberto Contador wins, Volta a Caatalunya 2011 stage three

Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank) has headed to Italy to check out some of the key mountain stages of the Tour of Italy ahead of his bid for a second overall win.

Contador has been spotted in the Dolomites, where he has already checked out the third week's 12.7 kilometre uphill time trial at Nevegal. Two of his Saxo Bank team-mates, Dani Navarro and Jesus Hernandez are riding with him.

The Spaniard headed for Italy directly from Fleche Wallone, missing out on Liege-Bastogne-Liege in preference for his mountain reconnaissance.

The trip is an indication that Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank) will be taking his second Tour of Italy bid very seriously, even as he continues to wait for the definitive decision from CAS over his positive for clenbuterol in last year's Tour.

Eleventh in Fleche Wallone where he was out of shape because of a cold, Contador has nonetheless had a highly successful season, winning the Tour of Catalunya, the Tour of Murcia and a stage in the Tour of Castille y Leon. Next up - the Tour of Italy.

Related links

Giro d'Italia 2011: Cycling Weekly's coverage index

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