Spanish cycling star Alejandro Valverde says his time away from cycling due to a two-year doping suspension has given him a new perspective on the sport. Valverde was banned for two years from January 2010 after being implicated in Operation Puerto, a blood-doping ring in Spain involving more than 50 riders. He gave up the No 1 world ranking in the process.
The 31-year-old Valverde makes his return to racing at the January 15-22 Tour Down Under in South Australia, the opening ProTour event of the year. He'll lead the all-Spanish Movistar team. Valverde said through a translator on Wednesday that he had no expectations for the tour but was calm and wanted to enjoy the race.