Spain Cycling Volta Catalunya
Saxo Bank rider Alberto Contador of Spain is seen before the first stage of the Volta of Catalunya in Lloret de Mar, Spain, Monday, March 21, 2011. (...
Saxo Bank rider Alberto Contador of Spain is seen before the first stage of the Volta of Catalunya in Lloret de Mar, Spain, Monday, March 21, 2011. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Spain Cycling Volta Catalunya
Saxo Bank rider Alberto Contador of Spain is seen before the first stage of the Volta of Catalunya in Lloret de Mar, Spain, Monday, March 21, 2011. (...
Saxo Bank rider Alberto Contador of Spain is seen before the first stage of the Volta of Catalunya in Lloret de Mar, Spain, Monday, March 21, 2011. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Spain Cycling Volta Catalunya
Saxo Bank rider Alberto Contador of Spain looks on before the first stage of the Volta of Catalunya in Lloret de Mar, Spain, Monday, March 21, 2011. ...
Saxo Bank rider Alberto Contador of Spain looks on before the first stage of the Volta of Catalunya in Lloret de Mar, Spain, Monday, March 21, 2011. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Spain Cycling Volta Catalunya
Saxo Bank rider Alberto Contador of Spain prepares before the first stage of the Volta of Catalunya in Lloret de Mar, Spain, Monday, March 21, 2011. ...
Saxo Bank rider Alberto Contador of Spain prepares before the first stage of the Volta of Catalunya in Lloret de Mar, Spain, Monday, March 21, 2011. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Gatis Smukulis of Latvia won the opening stage of Volta of Catalunya on Monday, and Alberto Contador finished 10th as a decision looms from cycling's governing body over whether to appeal his clearance of a doping ban.
Smukulis finished the the 166.9-kilometer (103.7-mile) ride beginning and ending in Lloret de Mar in northeastern Spain in 4 hours, 8 minutes, 48 seconds.
The HTC-Highroad rider was followed by a pack, including Contador, finishing 28 seconds behind.
Contador, a three-time Tour de France champion, tested positive for clenbuterol but was later cleared of wrongdoing by the Spanish cycling federation. The International Cycling Union has said it will decide by Thursday whether to appeal the decision.
