At 42 years of age, Davide Rebellin has no intentions of slowing down. Having finished 3rd in the Europe Tour rankings in 2013, he has proved that he can still battle with the best riders in the world and now prepares to ride another year with the CCC Polsat team.

Davide Rebellin was once one of the most decorated cyclists in the professional peloton and one of the leading Ardennes specialists. In 2004, he became the first rider to complete the Ardennes triple by winning the Amstel Gold Race, Fleche Wallonne and Liege-Bastogne-Liege - a feat that has only been copied by Philippe Gilbert in 2011 - and he came close to winning the final edition of the world cup that same year.

However, his image was tainted when it emerged that he had tested positive for EPO CERA at the Beijing Olympics where he had originally finished second behind Samuel Sanchez. The news broke just days after his third win in the Fleche Wallonne in April 2009 and he was handed a two-year suspension.

Since then, no ProTeam has shown any interest in signing the veteran Italian and he has been forced to race for smaller teams. Riding for Miche and Meridiana Kamen at the continental level, he showed, however, that he is still one of the best riders and won the prestigious Tre Valli Varesine in 2011 - 13 years after his first win in the autumn classics.

The results earned him a contract with the professional continental team CCC Polsat for 2013 and he once again showed great consistency. While he only won 4 minor races, his consistency - especially in the Italian one-day races - allowed him to finish 3rd in the Europe Tour rankings.

"It was a decent season," he told L'Arena in an interview. "My 3rd place in the European Tour rankings pleases me. It means that I have taken results on a regular basis and that I was present in the races I did. Unfortunately, I didn't ride very much, only 50 race days. Otherwise I could have done better."

Rebellin's best race probably came at the Italian championships. On a very hard course, he made it into the trio that would decide the race. While Rebellin and Michele Scarponi were busy looking at each other, Ivan Santaromita rode away while the 42-year-old veteran had to settle for 3rd.

"On the day of the Italian championships, I had a mixed emotion of  disappointment and satisfaction. I really hoped to win the tricolour jersey which has always eluded me, often just by a whisker. At one point in the race, I thought I could do it and so the 3rd place left me with bitterness. To be on the podium again in the Italian championships at by age is, however, not bad."

Rebellin will turn 43 in August but he has no intentions of slowing down.

"I intend to continue my career, at least for another year," he said. "I still feel that I am good enough to make results. It is not the time to retire. The legs and the heart will decide when I will get off my bike but for now the motivation and desire are there."

He plans to stay with the CCC team. "I think so, the agreement is already there. I just need to sign it," he said.

With CCC being a pro continental team, it relies on invitations to races on the WorldTour calendar. This year, the team only did the Tour de Pologne and Rebellin doesn't know much about his 2014 schedule.

"It will depend on the needs of the team, but in principle I should start in France at the Tour of the Mediterranean," he said.

Rebellin is not the only veteran in the professional peloton. In fact, 41-year-old Chris Horner won the Vuelta a Espana and so proved that age is no hindrance when it comes to performing on the biggest scene.

Rebellin is not surprised by the American's feat.

"I am convinced that at my age you can get great results," he said. "When you have the motivation and a healthy life, when you still want to make sacrifices and work hard in training, it is possible for a rider who is more than 40 years old. To win the Vuelta is a great achievement, but Horner achieved because he managed his season in the right way: due to injuries, he raced very little and arrived at the Vuelta with a lot more power than his rivals."

Rebellin has been accused of tax evasion and this week the trial was adjourned until April. According to the prosecutors, he owes the Italian state 2,5 million euros but he is convinced that he will be able to prove his innocence.

This will allow him to once again concentrate on his career - a career that will continue at least for another season.