Vinokourov returns to racing

Alexander Vinokourov will become the next big name to make a comeback to the sport of cycling when he tackles the Rabobank Beach Challenge this Saturday. The race organisation for the mountain bike race which takes place in Scheveningen, the Netherlands, confirmed Vinokourov's participation Thursday.

Vinokourov immediately retired after being given a year's suspension for testing positive for blood transfusion at the 2007 Tour de France. The UCI has promised to fight the Kazakhstan federation's light sentence should Vinokourov return. However, the December 6 Rabobank Beach Challenge is not a UCI sanctioned event.

The Kazakh rider made his intentions to return to road racing known last month. Whether or not he would return to his former Astana team remains to be seen, although team manager Johan Bruyneel said that he could see no reason why Vinokourov should not be able to ride with the squad.