How does the Astana case affect the riders? Lieuwe Westra is not thinking too much about it. "We shouldn't do that. Of course the riders are also involved but honestly I am not too concerned. I am busy with my riding," he told NOS.

Westra is preparing for his next race. And that's not Paris-Nice which was his first big goal and where he finished second in 2012.

"I will ride Tirreno-Adriatico. In the beginning, I was disappointed because Paris-Nice is a bit of a home race. The time trial is near my home," the Monaco resident said. "But in Italy Astana will field eighty percent of the Tour team around Vincenzo Nibali."

Hence, Westra will go to Tirreno as a domestique for the Tour champion. "They let me make my own decision. But they really need. There's a team time trial in the Tour and also in Tirreno," Westra explained.

Whether Astana will be at the Tour is still a big question. The answer won't be revealed before March 20 which is the deadline for the Kazakh team to submit their defence.

The UCI has asked the License Commission to revoke the license. "I leave everything to the team and to the doctors. But we follow the rules. We have nothing to hide. I can't see how this can go wrong for us."

Meanwhile Westra focuses on the sporting side of his profession. At Tirreno-Adriatico, his leader will be up against Alberto Contador, Chris Froome and Nairo Quintana. "How he feels? That remains to be seen. In the Tour of Oman he was certainly not at his best."

In that race Nibali was 20th. In his first race of 2015, Dubai Tour, the Italian finished 39th. Westra has not had much contact with him this year,even though they rode together in Oman. "I will see him again next week. In any case, his English is getting better."