Franco Pellizotti has accepted that the rules of the Movement for a Credible Cycling (MPCC) prevents him from riding for Astana until May 2, 2014. The Italian asked for an exemption from the rules but as it was refused, he will now use the Giro d'Italia to prepare for the Tour de France.

Franco Pellizotti has thrown in the towel and accepted that he will not be allowed to race for his new Astana team until May 2, 2014. In an interview La Tribuna di Treviso, the Italian admits that the legal opportunities have all been used and he will have to postpone his debut with his new team until late in the sprint.

Astana is a member of the Movement for a Credible Cycling whose rules stipulate that a rider who have served a suspension of at least 6 months, cannot sign for one of its members until two years after the completion of the ban. Pellizotti served a two-year ban for a biological passport case and was allowed back in competition on May 2, 2011. Nonetheless, Astana announced that they had signed the former Italian champion for the 2014 season.

After a recent meeting, Astana accepted that Pellizotti had to obey to the rules and so would not be allowed to race for the team until May 2014. “We’ve decided to respect the MPCC rules and so Franco will only start racing on May 2,” manager Giuseppe Martinelli told Cyclingnews last month. “We’ve explained to him that it’s important for the team to respect the rules of the MPCC and so he’ll miss the early months of the season but ride the Giro d’Italia and then be at 100 per cent for the Tour de France."

Pellizotti now accepts that his debut will be delayed. He has been signed as a key domestique for Vincenzo Nibali in the Tour de France and will use the Giro d'Italia to prepare.

"With the lawyers we tried to ask for an exemption but it was not possible because otherwise it would have created a precedence," he said. "I would have liked to do the Tour de Romandie before using the Giro as preparation for the Tour."

Pellizotti rode with Nibali at Liquigas and so knows his new captain well. He is convinced that he has what it takes to battle against Chris Froome in the Tour.

"Vincenzp is one of the few rider that can win a grand tour," he said. "The Tour route favours him. There are so many climb but one also needs to pay attention to the very tricky first part with the cobblestone stage in which an accident can destroy the entire season."

Pellizotti will turn 36 in January but still feels that he has a lot more in his legs.

"Cycling has changed," he said. "Now teams are more organized and organic and have more riders. So you can plan the race calendar more accurately. I think I will still be competitive for at least three or four more years."

This year Pellizotti rode for Androni and finished 11th in the Giro.