Riccardo Ricco is ready to race again after serving a 20-month ban for doping at the 2008 Tour de France.

The ban expires Thursday, and Ricco's first race back will be the five-day Coppi & Bartali event in Italy next week.

Ricco has joined the Ceramica Flaminia team and says "This is a second debut for me. I've really worked hard to prepare myself for this new opportunity. Cycling is my job and from now on I won't make the mistakes I made in the past."

Ricco tested positive for CERA, an advanced version of the banned blood-boosting hormone EPO, after winning two mountain stages of the 2008 Tour de France.

Is Ricco clean? Will he test positive again? Discuss in our discussion forums at forums.roadcycling.com.