Dauphiné next target for Contador

Spain's 2007 Tour de France champion Alberto Contador is to reappear in the Criterium du Dauphine on June 8.

The 25-year-old has been barred from this year's Tour De France because his Astana team were not invited by the organisers, and has been out of action since winning the Tour of the Basque Country on April 12.

Contador took a week's rest after his victory, explaining that while he had resumed training he has been taking antibiotics for the toothache that plagued him during the Tout of the Basque Country.

Tour de France organiser ASO ruled in February that the Astana team would be barred from competing in this year's race as a result of doping scandals over the past two years by the team of which Contador was not then a part of.

However, Contador has received support from International Cycling Union (UCI) president Pat McQuaid: "If Contador decides to take legal action in Spain or internationally myself and the UCI will give evidence in his favour and I will be a witness,"

McQuaid told the daily El Mundo on March 14: "I know Contador and the people around him and I know that he is a clean and honest rider."

Contador intends to take no legal action, saying he wants to concentrate on the Olympics and Tour of Spain.