Alexandre Vinokourov will race the Tour de France one way or another, but said he supports team manager Manolo Saiz despite allegations that the Spanish director is linked to an alleged blood-doping ring.

Saiz was detained two weeks ago by Spanish authorities after making an alleged exchange of suitcases with Spanish doctor Eufemiano Fuentes in a Madrid café. Police later found one suitcase with $60,000 in cash while another was an insulated bag allegedly filled with containers of blood and doping products.

Vinokourov spoke to reporters ahead of Sunday’s start at the Dauphiné Libéré, where he finished 10 seconds off the winning time set by Dave Zabriskie (CSC) in the opening prologue.

“Just like everyone, the only thing I know about all this is what I’ve read in the papers,” Vinokourov told L’Equipe. “I also believe my director (Saiz) who says he has nothing to do with all this. He has my confidence. Manolo said he’s not ready to be here at the race, but he’s not going to quit. He’s a fighter and it’s a mentality that I like.”

The team lost its title sponsor with insurance giant Liberty Seguros in the days following the detention of five people in Spain as part of the investigation. Saiz and his Active Bay holding company have secured the continued support of co-sponsor Würth. And late last week, a consortium of companies from Kazakhstan stepped up to take over as lead sponsor for the next three seasons racing under the name Astaná.

For his part, Vinokourov denied any contact with Fuentes and said he’s never met the controversial Spanish doctor. Concerning some chatter that the team should be excluded from the Tour de France, Vinokourov said that would be unfair.

“A lot of people without a doubt would prefer not to see me at the Tour,” he said. “All this business has to do with Manolo, not me, so I don’t see how anyone could try to keep me from starting the Tour. I only have a few more chances left to win the Tour and I want to arrive in optimum conditions.”

Concerning his chances at the Dauphiné, where he finished fifth last year and won a stage up Mont Ventoux, the Kazakh rider said, “I was stronger last year than I am now, but I will make a test on the stage to La Toussuire on Saturday.”

Botero demoralized
Santiago Botero said his season is "over" after being sidelined by his Phonak team over allegations that he's linked to Spanish doctor Eufemiano Fuentes as part of an investigation into an alleged blood-doping ring. Botero, who finished second in last year's Dauphine Libere, was told by team officials Friday who couldn't race again until alleged links between Fuentes and Botero have been "clarified."

"For me, the season is over. I don't have objectives and I don't have motivation for anything," Botero said in an interview with the Colombian daily El Tiempo de Bogotá. "My morale and motivation is zero. I have trained seven months in Colombia, killing myself every day to train on the bike."

The former world time trial champion didn't take Sunday's start at the Dauphine and it's not known how long it will take team officials to make a final decision. Botero, along with Giro d’Italia runner-up José Enrique Gutiérrez, were told by team officials that their temporary work stoppage could become permanent if links do become validated by authorities.

Cunego uncertain about Tour
Italy's Damiano Cunego said he's undecided about whether he'll race in July's Tour de France.

A week after finishing fourth in the Giro d'Italia, the Lampre-Fontidal rider said he's "50-50" on whether he'll ride in July.

"I will announce my decision in (mid-June)," Cunego told ANSA. "Right now, there's 50-50 chance I will be at the Tour start. I won't hardly race at all in June and I've already removed the Italian championships from my program."

Cunego is still only 24, but he has yet to start the Tour. After his breakthrough victory in the 2004 Giro, Cunego fell ill to mononucleosis in 2005 that derailed plans to race the Tour. Because of relative youth, Cunego said he can be patient, but he's angling to get to the Tour sooner than later.

"I want to measure myself against the best," Cunego continued. "After my success in the Giro, which was a total surprise, I still have time to make a progression toward the first positions."

Cunego said if he skips the Tour, it will be to race the Vuelta a España instead and prepare for the world championships in Salzburg, Austria.

Garzelli improving
Stefano Garzelli took confidence from his victory in Sunday’s final stage at the Tour of Luxembourg. It was Garzelli’s second win of the year after his victory earlier this year at GP Frankfurt and the fifth for the Liquigas team.

Garzelli, who skipped the Giro to prepare for the Tour de France, said he won’t be racing for the overall classification at the Tour, but rather go on the prowl for a mountain stage victory.

“Thanks to this win I’m more confident in myself and I look forward the most demanding part of the season first at the Tour de Suisse, then at the Tour de France,” Garzelli said in a team release. “At the Grande Boucle I won’t aim only at the overall ranking but also at the stage wins: I saw some mountain stages that seems to fit me.”