Jonathan Tiernan-Locke, who is serving a two-year doping suspension, is not ready to quit cycling just yet.
Tiernan-Locke hinted at early retirement but has now suggested a return to cycling is possible once his ban is served.
“My heart’s still in racing,” Tiernan-Locke, who will be free to return from 1 January 2016, told ITV. “I would still like to compete. I don’t think I’m done competing yet.”
The 29-year-old from Devon had his Team Sky contract cancelled this year after confirmation of a UCI anti-doping violation.
Tiernan-Locke has not raced since being withdrawn from competition by the team in September 2013 following the discovery of discrepancies in his biological passport.
In August, UK Anti-Doping rejected his claim that irregular blood samples were the result of an alcohol binge. He was stripped of the 2012 Tour of Britain title but maintains his innocence.