Sergio Henao has been taken off the race schedule and sent to Colombia to take part in an altitude research programme by the decision of Team Sky, following his questionable levels of hematocrit revealed in their internal tests. According to Revista Mundo Ciclistico, the 26-year old Colombian is confident about results of the ongoing research and claimed that he should return to competition at the Tour de Suisse in June.

“I’m waiting for the days when I’ll return to racing. I’m still training as if to participate in the Giro or the Tour. I’m still alive and I have to take what a life brings, life goes on,” Henao told RevistaMundoCiclistico.

According to Colombian media, the further step in the Team Sky research is to replicate the variable conditions of training cycles in Colombia and periods of racing in Europe, to study its influence on blood parameters of altitude natives. Thus, Henao is expected to return to Europe in late May before returning to racing in the Swiss WorldTour event.

“Everything is going according to the plans of the team, we have to wait to do final tests and draw conclusions after analyzing all the data we received so far at the altitude and those we’re going to collect after return to Europe,” Henao explained

“A return to Europe is planned for late May, to train there for a couple of weeks, collect data and draw conclusions.”

“I am calm, I think the hardest part is already behind me. I’m motivated and as strong as I would be for participating in the Giro or the Tour. I trained as if everything was normal, I have nothing to hide,” the 26-year old Colombian concluded