Sergio Henao has given his first public interview since he was informed that he had once more been provisionally suspended for suspicious biological passport information. The Sky rider was speaking to local newspaper El Espectador back in his nation of Colombia, where he spoke of his ordeal.

"I thought that this was already a story that had been forgotten about," he told El Espectador. "It hit me hard and it's still hitting me hard. I keep asking myself: 'Why me?' There are innocent people in prison and this is the same."

Henao says the news is extra hard to take as he has been flying in 2016: third Down Under, sixth Paris-Nice and second in Pais Vasco. He has also had to skip Fleche Wallonne (where he was a big favourite) and the Giro.

"It was really hard receiving the news because I felt I was in an extraordinary moment of my career," said Henao. “At times it really saddens me and I cry at not being at the Giro. That's what has hit me hardest and left the sourest taste, because I was in the best moment of my career."

Henao says he will keep training hard for when he is allowed to return, and the Colombian says he is completely innocent of any wrongdoing and will continue to work with anyone who requires his cooperation. 

"I will do the same [as I did in 2014]," he said. "I have nothing to hide, I have a clean conscience, my blood and urine tests show I've never used anything and that the biological passport fluctuations are due to my physiology."

"I arrived last week in Colombia and am now dedicated to gym work and recovering from the demanding first part of the year. Physically, I'm in great shape and I'm preparing myself because I know that at any moment this might resolve itself and it'll be time to return to racing."