Alessandro Ballan, who is currently banned to end in August, would like to return in the professional peloton. According to Cyclingnews, the former World Champion would join the UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling team, a UCI ProContinentale team.

"This time of year we speak with a lot of riders and agents. We explore all opportunities and have had a dialogue with Ballan," agent Mike Tamayo explained according to Cyclingnews.

Ballan is one of 27 people indicted in Italy as part of the Mantova doping investigation. In 2010 when the enquiry was announced he was subsequently suspended by the BMC Cycling Team. He was later cleared by BMC and allowed to race again on 28 May 2010. In November 2013 it was reported that CONI were seeking a 2 year ban for violation of article 2.2 of the WADA code. In January 2014, CONI handed Ballan a two-year suspension. His contract with BMC Racing Team was subsequently terminated.