Basso braced for success

The 30-year-old Basso, who signed a two-year contract with Liquigas earlier this year, won the 2006 Giro d'Italia but was subsequently suspended for two years after being implicated in the Spanish Operation Puerto blood doping investigation.

Basso admitted some bags of blood found in police raids were his but said he never actually used them to improve his performances in races.

"I'm lucky that I can race again and show that what I did in the first part of my career was done honestly," Basso said. "I'm convinced that people will believe in me.

"Some people will still be disappointed with me for what I did, but time will help heal the scars."

Basso's ban ends on October 24 and his first race with the Liquigas team will be the one-day Japan Cup in Tokyo two days later. He plans to ride the Tour of San Luis in Argentina in January 2009, the Tour of California in February and then target the Giro.

"There are still a few days to go before I can race again but it's almost over," he said.

"The 26th will be the day when I can finally pin on a number at a race and feel the emotions I haven't felt for two years.

"I've worked hard to be on good form and I'm optimistic I can do well.

"The Giro will be my biggest objective for 2009 but there are other races before then which will be key steps in my comeback with my new team-mates.

"When it's time to talk about Armstrong I will - but he's obviously the number one favourite for the Giro d'Italia."

Seven-times Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong will also ride the three-week Italian stage race after announcing his comeback.