Scarponi to receive 2011 Giro title

Italian cyclist Michele Scarponi will on Thursday receive the 2011 Tour of Italy pink jersey following the disqualification of Alberto Contador. Contador won the 2011 Giro on the road but lost it after testing positive for a banned substance in last season's Tour de France. With the Spaniard's 2011 results wiped from cycling's record books Scarponi, who finished runner-up at 6min 10sec, was designated the official winner. The award ceremony will take place in Herning, Denmark, two days before the start of the 2012 Giro for which Scarponi will line up again as one of the favourites. "It will be a welcome reward, a prize for a very good performance in last year's Giro," said the Lampre team rider. "But I would like to experience the feeling of winning the pink jersey on the road, that will be an added motivating factor for this Giro which is about to get under way." Contador was banned for two years by the Court of Arbitration for Sport for testing positive for anabolic steroid clenbuterol. He is planning to make his comeback in the Tour of Benelux in August.