Riccò remains optimistic

Riccardo Riccò remains optimistic about his future in the sport, despite currently serving a suspension for doping during last year's Tour de France.

He has commented on his future after receiving a reduction in his penalty of four months - instead of two years, he will serve 20 months. The Court of Arbitration for Sport partially upheld his appeal on the grounds of his "active cooperation" when he explained that Leonardo Piepoli also took CERA last year.

The 25-year-old Italian, who will be 27 when his ban expires on March 18, 2010, has told velobike.it, "At 27 years [old], I am still young and I still have at least 10 years ahead of me."

His defence counsel sought a one-year reduction in the sanction imposed, although this latest development still means he will only miss two months of the 2010 season.

His lawyer called it, "A balanced decision".

Riccò may find a comeback more difficult than imagined, however, with news yesterday that the former Saunier Duval-Scott team, now known as Fuji-Servetto, has not been invited to the Tour de France due in part to Riccò's actions at last year's Tour.

While Riccò is adamant that he will return as strong as he was before, getting a team with which to ride the world's biggest may not be as easy.