Oscar Pereiro has claimed it would be unfair if he was not retrospectively awarded the 2006 Tour de France, but race organisers have moved to calm his fears to say that there will be a winner.
American Floyd Landis is widely to be expected to be stripped of his race victory after failing a dope test, although he maintains he is innocent.
Pereiro, who finished second, would be the logical successor, but some have suggested that Tour chiefs might decide to declare no winner if Landis is indeed disqualified.
Speaking to Marca on the day the route of the 2007 race was unveiled in Paris, Pereiro said: 'At present I am here (in Paris) as the runner-up of the Tour de France.
'There is a rumour that they want to leave the past year's race without a winner, but until that's confirmed I will say nothing.'
The Spaniard went on to say: 'If it's confirmed it would be unjust.'
However, Patrice Clerc, the president of the body that runs the race, said that Pereiro need not worry.
'Obviously there has to be a winner in 2006,' said Clerc.
