Having his professional career ruined by the infamous intervention of Operacion Puerto in 2006 just before reaching the peak of his possibilities, Francesco Mancebo returned to the spotlight when he made it into the break on the final stage of Dubai Tour first edition. The 37-year old Spaniard has signed a one year deal with Skydive Dubai Pro Cycling Team after spending many seasons in even less convincing Continental level outfits and hopes to rediscover the joy of cycling while he reflects over the happenings which irrevocably stopped his development.

Mancebo admits that even though you cannot tell the future, everything suggested the 2006 season to be the most successful of his career, before he was implicated in the Spanish investigation connected with Operacion Puerto. Being the top five finisher of both Tour the France and Vuelta a Espana for two consecutive years, Madrid-born cyclist expected himself to finally claim the overall victory of his home grand tour race, but became suspended shortly after signing a contract by Ag2r-Prevoyance team when his name appeared on the list of riders produced during the investigation.

Finally trying to make it back to the spotlight after rather unspectacular seven years spent under the banners of barely recognizable Continental squads, Mancebo mourns over the wasted opportunities aware, that he would never be able to replicate the disposition from his best seasons.

“In 2006 it cut my career,” Mancebo told Biciciclismo.

“I do not know where I would have finished. Maybe I could have won a Vuelta a España or maybe not, but it is certain that I would have contested it.”

After many years spent on racing exclusively on the American circuit, Mancebo was handed a chance to follow more diverse schedule in terms of locations in 2014 after he has signed a one year contract with Skydive Dubai Pro Cycling. Obviously, the Asian races would be the main target for the Persian Gulf-based Continental squad, but the 37-year old Spanish rider will receive few opportunities to celebrate the twilight of his professional career on European routes, particularly at the Volta ao Algarve.

Even though Mancebo has never received a punishment from official authorities in regards to the Operacion Puerto investigation, he confesses that the ostracism of the cycling environment which has stricken him afterwards caused greater suffering than any kind of possible suspension.

“I've paid and am paying a penalty. I have spent eight years a pariah and I think that is much more than a penalty.”

Saying that, Spanish rider admits that the discipline has drastically changed over the last ten years, both on American ground and in Europe, as doping appears to him as the matter of the past.

“Currently, cycling is much cleaner. As I said before I have noticed that the mentality has changed. I saw it in the U.S. and certainly here will be similar.”

While the Madrid-born cyclist turns 38 in March, like many other professional riders in their mid- and late-thirties these days, he seems to be inspired by the last achievements of the unquestionably mature Vuelta a Espana champion Christopher Horner. However, Mancebo confesses that the days when he was up to contest the general classification of grand tour races are over and now his main intention is to enjoy the bike racing by riding in the more aggressive way.

“Before, I was riding more conservatively,” he explains.

“I had the responsibility of having to be in front at the decisive moments. Now I have more fun, I go on the attack.”.

“For me, the triumph of Horner's is like a motivation to continue in the world of cycling. Given his age (42), and the one I have (37), you realise that you can be a veteran and still be getting results.”

“Now I am transformed for one-week races and very short tours or hunting stages,” says Mancebo. “The grand tours are already too much for me.”