PASADENA, Calif. — The cruel irony wasn’t lost on those who follow Colorado’s pro cycling scene. There at the final news conference for the Tour of California on Sunday was Boulder’s fledgling Team Slipstream/Chipotle facing the international cycling press, trumpeting its team victory.
Meanwhile, nearly hidden in the dark at the side of the room stood Tyler Hamilton, Boulder’s one-time cycling darling, trying to come back from a two-year doping ban after testing positive at the 2004 Athens Olympics and ’04 Tour of Spain.
He has come out of retirement to join Rock Racing, an upstart outfit that has signed three cyclists who are coming off doping bans. It backfired at the Tour of California, when the trio were informed Feb. 16 that they were banned.
“It was very hard,” Hamilton said. “The gentleman over there, (race chief) Andy Messick, still owes me an explanation.”
Hamilton, 36, wearing Rock Racing’s trademark black jeans, black T-shirt and black ball cap, maintained his innocence. Cycling officials and cyclists, including Slipstream/ Chipotle’s David Millar, have said if Hamilton came clean he would be welcomed back to racing, similar to the way Millar has.
“What do I have to come clean about?” Hamilton asked.
Hamilton was asked how he explains his innocence after failing two court appeals.
“I’m looking forward right now,” he said.
Hamilton signed a three- year contract with Rock Racing and owner/fashion designer Michael Ball, who lured him out of retirement in December after Hamilton’s long legal battle. Hamilton hasn’t raced since the U.S. Pro Championships in September.
“I thought about it for a couple weeks and finally, ‘You know what? Why not?’ ” Hamilton said. “I want to end my cycling career on a better note.”
John Henderson: 303-954-1299 or jhenderson@denverpost.com
