Perhaps more than anyone, Spanish rider Oscar Pereiro laments the slow wheels of justice when it comes to resolving the Floyd Landis doping case at the 2006 Tour de France.

Pereiro, as runner-up in last year’s Tour, has the most to gain if Landis loses in his bid to prove his innocence against doping charges. And Pereiro maintains he has lost the most of any of the other protagonists in the unfortunate scenario if Landis becomes the first rider of the modern era to have his Tour crown stripped away.

“I couldn’t and my team couldn’t maximize the benefits of a Tour victory because of this slow and frustrating process,” Pereiro told VeloNews. “If Landis loses his case, we won’t be able to enjoy the moment of celebration on the podium or take any economic benefits from such a victory.”

With the first Landis hearing not expected until sometime in May, it’s clear the case will not be resolved before the start of the 2007 Tour in London. Pereiro voiced his frustration that it’s taking so long to move forward with the disciplinary hearings.

The waiting game: Pereiro is frustrated with the slow wheels of justice.

Photo: Andrew Hood

“It’s difficult to understand why we have to wait so long before any hearings even begin. Then there’s always a long waiting period and perhaps more appeals, so now we’re just hoping there will be a definitive winner before the 2008 Tour,” Pereiro continued. “Whether I am named the winner or Floyd is named the winner, we just want the case to be decided as quickly as possible.”

Pereiro refuses to become bitter despite the drawn-out process and enters the 2007 season with motivation and optimism. Despite a bout of the flu that has slowed his early season training, the Gallego says his top goals are the Tour and the Vuelta a España.

As far as the 2007 Tour is concerned, Pereiro admits he’s not among the top favorites and shot down any suggestion that there’s tension among Caisse d’Epargne between himself and Alejandro Valverde.

“With the likes of Basso and Vinokourov back at the Tour, I know I won’t be a favorite to win. I will be among that second tier of candidates, and that’s fine with me. What’s sure is that people will be watching me a little closer and I cannot expect to be given 25 minutes back in a breakaway,” he said. “With Alejandro, we are both better off sharing the load of the team. If one is riding better than the other, we’ve both agreed we’ll work for the one who’s best placed in the GC. There’s no problem between us.”

Watch VeloNews.com in the coming days for a complete interview with Pereiro.

Cunego takes flight
Damiano Cunego took flight this week with the Italian Air Force in a jetfighter, but more than anything, he wants to take wings once again in 2007.

After a disappointing 2005 season, Cunego bounced back last year with solid runs at both the Giro d’Italia and in his Tour de France, when he won the best young rider’s category. For ’07, Cunego wants to win the Giro and take aim at Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

“I’ve had a good winter of training and the first races back will be only to regain the rhythm of competition. I’ll start to compete with seriousness in April,” Cunego told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “Liège and the Giro, those are the big objectives of the season.”

Cunego won the 2004 Giro in spectacular fashion, but suffered through media pressure and health issues in 2005 only to bounce back with a solid campaign last year that included an impressive debut at the Tour.

Already a winner at the Giro di Lombardia as part of his magical 2004 season, Cunego is putting an equal focus on the classics. Third last year in La Doyenne, the Italian has only put Amstel Gold and Liège on his tentative schedule.

“Liège is a race that suits me well and last year I already finished on the podium,” Cunego said. “It’s not impossible to think of winning Milan-San Remo, but things would have to go very well. It’s a nervous race, long and it’s difficult to try to arrive alone and I certainly can’t think of winning with Petacchi and Boonen at the line.”

The Piccolo Principe will make his season debut at Ruta del Sol later this month before racing the Vuelta a Murcia, Criterium International, Vuelta al Pais Vasco, Amstel Gold Race, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the Tour de Romandie or the Giro di Trentino ahead of the Giro.

Despite claiming the best young rider’s jersey in his Tour debut last year, Cunego hasn’t committed to racing in July. He’s considering skipping the Tour and riding back into form during the Vuelta a España and make a run at the world championships in Germany as well as the fall classics.

Mercado under knife
Spanish climber Juan Miguel Mercado (Agritubel) will undergo surgery on his wrist and will be sidelined until the end of March. Mercado crashed in Wednesday’s stage at the Mallorca Challenge and fractured his wrist.

A winner of the 10th stage at last year’s Tour de France into Pau, Mercado is scheduled to undergo surgery Monday in Málaga, Spain, and isn’t expected to return to competition until the Vuelta al Castilla y Léon in late March.

Dauphiné picks key mountain stage
The Dauphiné Libéré always offers up surprises and appetizers to what’s await the peloton in July. After offering a preview last year to the decisive La Toussuire climb and often hitting such giants as Mont Ventoux, the major mountain attraction of the 2007 Dauphiné will be a climb to the Valloire ski area north of Col du Galibier.

The route, set for June 16, will also tackle Col d’Ornon, Col de la Croix-de-Fer and the Col du Télégraphe in the Dauphiné’s decisive queen’s stage. The Dauphiné starts June 10 in Grenoble with a prologue.