Contador pens Saxo Bank

Contador, who was stripped of his 2010 Tour de France title and banned for two years after failing a drugs test for the anabolic agent clenbuterol, is eligible to return to action on Aug. 5.

"Throughout these tough two years we have stood by Alberto, so to be able to announce his return to the team is something I have really been looking forward to," team manager Bjarne Riis said on the Saxo bank website (www.team-saxobank.com).

"Now we can put an end to the speculation and start focusing on building the team for the coming years."

Contador, who also won the Tour in 2007 and 2009, was given a retroactive ban in February after a high-profile case which was taken all the way to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

"The decision to return to Team Saxo Bank has been pretty easy, and my first priority was always to rejoin them and to continue working with Bjarne Riis and the rest of the team," said the 29-year-old, widely regarded as the best cyclist of his generation.

"The support I have experienced from them in a very difficult situation has been extraordinary. I am really looking forward to getting back on the bike, and my aim is to repay that support with some great results."