Hoping to race the Tour de France
DiarioVasco.com reports that Andrey Kaschechkin is in talks with Lampre about a return to cycling. The former 3rd place overall finisher and stage winner at the Vuelta Espana, tested positive for blood doping following the 2007 Tour de France.
Kaschechkin was sanctioned for two years by the UCI and has been eligible to return for some time now.
The talks with Lampre apparently include the 30-year-old Kaschechkin bringing a sponsor to the team with him, which will make the move more viable, and also brings to light the remote possibility of a start at the upcoming Tour de France.
Of course, Kaschechkin would have a number of things standing between him and the Tour – actually officially signing the contract first, and, more importantly, the approval of the ASO. They have given their approval to a return by Vinokourov this July, but it is highly unlikely they will be as kind a second time. DiarioVasco.com says that if the Tour de France possibility falls through, Kaschechkin would like to race the Vuelta.