Sympathy is not something Predictor-Lotto’s Robbie McEwen is usually known to offer his rivals. But on Thursday the Australian sprinter admitted he felt sorry for one of his main rivals, Italian sprinter Alessandro Petacchi.

But in almost the same breath McEwen called for glorious sporting achievements at this year’s Tour de France to replace months of lurid headlines about doping in cycling.

Petacchi, who faces a one-year ban for an unusually high level of salbutamol during the Giro d'Italia, will not race the Tour this year. He also missed last year’s edition due to a knee injury.

Despite the Italian speedster’s absence, McEwen, who has won 11 stages in his nine Tours — including three apiece in his past two campaigns — will not get a free ride to a fourth green points jersey.

"There's plenty of other guys I still have to beat," said McEwen. “It's not until you've done a few days of sprinting that you see who's on form and who's not."

McEwen hopes to win a stage in the Tour’s first week, calling it important “to get that first one on the board." Then, after the first week of racing, he’ll see how he stacks up against his rivals in the fight for a fourth points jersey.

"I don't see the green jersey as mine to defend. It's for everybody to go and win,” he said. “There's a big list of rivals - (Tom) Boonen, (Daniele) Bennati, (Thor) Hushovd, and (Oscar) Freire."

As regards the recent revelations about doping in the sport, McEwen added: "I'm not here to get into a discussion about doping. I'm here to race the Tour, and I'd rather see more headlines about sporting achievements than doping. We need to give a bit of credibility back to the sport, and to the race."

Nevertheless, McEwen admitted to feeling sorry for Petacchi.

"Not being a doctor I don't know all the details about his test or how many nanograms were involved. All I know is that it's a shame for cycling, and for Petacchi," he said. "I'd like to give him the benefit of the doubt."