Former Olympic champion Tyler Hamilton finished in the middle of a huge peloton 67 seconds behind opening stage winner Daniele Contrini of Italy in the Tour de Georgia on Monday, the US cyclist's first race in his native country after a two-year doping ban.
Hamilton, who is attempting to reclaim his place among the elite in cycling after his suspension in September 2004 for blood doping, finished 56th.
He has been racing in Europe since January, but Monday was his first sanctioned race in his home country since the 2001 San Francisco Grand Prix.
Contrini completed Monday's 156km between Peachtree City and Macon in three hours, 24 minutes, 26 seconds. Doug Ollerenshaw of the US was 21 seconds behind in second, with Australian Ben Day another seven seconds back in third.
Despite his doping sanction, Hamilton has continued to protest his innocence, but he seemed relieved to again have the chance to talk about racing.
Hamilton said his comeback was slowed by a bout with flu symptoms that developed into bronchitis in March, but the 2004 Olympic time trial champion says he hopes to use this long race to build momentum for the Giro d'Italia.
Hamilton acknowledged he does not yet know if, at 36, he can return to his top form.
"I've never taken two and a half years off from racing and come back," he said. "Your guess is as good as mine. I feel I'm heading in the right direction."
The troubles faced by Hamilton, last year's Tour de France winner Floyd Landis and others have hurt the sport.
Hamilton's return was considered a taboo subject by some.
"No comment on that," said Ollerenshaw when asked how Hamilton was received by other racers.
Hamilton said before the race he was prepared for a possible icy reception from some of his peers, but he said on Monday he had no problems.
"It was really special there at the start line this morning," Hamilton said. "It was nice that there were a lot of people encouraging me and welcoming me back to racing. That was nice."
Yesterday's second stage from Thomaston north to Rome was to cover 217km, followed by another 190km trip north to Chattanooga, Tennessee, today.
The fourth and fifth days take the racers through the mountains of north Georgia, including the grueling Stage 5 run from Dalton to Brasstown Bald Mountain, Georgia's highest mountain.
The relatively flat courses on Monday and yesterday favor sprinters. Hamilton, at his peak, would be expected to make his move in the mountains.
The field includes 120 cyclists from 23 countries. The 1,073km race is the longest stage race in the US. The race is scheduled to end Sunday in Atlanta's Centennial Olympic Park.
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