Hondo optimistic

By Susan Westemeyer

Sprinter Danilo Hondo has returned to the peloton for the first time since 2006, and while he has not yet made it back to the top, he is satisfied with his season start.

He started the Tour de Langkawi this weekend "after a long wait and a lot of stress." So far the sprinter has not been able to make his mark on the race, as the first two stages were won out by successful breakaway groups. He was content to stay in the peloton in the first stage, as two of his Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli team-mates were in the escape group. In Sunday's second stage he came in fifth in the group sprint, six seconds after the day's escape group came through for the win.

"I believe that there will still be interesting stages here, and that, in the end, I will be able to take a further step in the direction of my European highlights," he said optimistically on his website, danilo-hondo.de.

Hondo tested positive for Carphedon during the 2005 Vuelta a Murcia. He was given a two-year ban, and after numerous court cases, appeals, rulings, and a short return to racing, the now-34 year-old was only allowed to ride again as of January this year.