Liege, Belgium--Tour de France champion Vincenzo Nibali said he was focussed on Sunday's Liege-Bastogne-Liege one-day classic now that his Astana team had seen the threat of suspension lifted.
Astana discovered on Thursday that their World Tour licence, permitting them to take part in major races such as the Grand Tours, like the Tour de France, or 'Monuments', such as Liege-Bastogne-Liege, had been confirmed by the world governing body UCI's Licence Commission.
A series of doping scandals that saw five Kazakh riders from Astana's professional World Tour and subsidiary Continental Tour teams banned for taking prohibited substances had seen the UCI recommend to its own Licence Commission that Astana's right to race be revoked.
But with that weight off his shoulders, Nibali, who while riding for Liquigas came second in Liege in 2012 to future Astana teammate Maxim Iglinsky -- ironically one of the five Astana riders banned for doping last year -- can now concentrate on landing a first Monument success.
"The news (of their licence being confirmed) came, we didn't celebrate but we were happy everything was resolved in the best way for Astana's riders and staff until 2016," said Nibali, who finished eighth in Liege in 2011 and 10th in 2008.
"For me and the team there was never any pressure, except from the media."
Nibali was beaten by a surprisingly strong showing from Iglinsky in 2012, despite the Kazakh not being known for his one-day classic prowess.
That was the closest Nibali came to winning La Doyenne (the oldest) when he attempted to break away alone.
He was overhauled by Iglinsky, who had counter-attacked with Ardennes Classics specialist Joaquim Rodriguez, before also leaving the Spaniard in his wake in the run-in.
AFP
