Just when I was forgetting about Floyd Landis and the 2006 Tour de France, Tour officials officially recognized second place Oscar Pereiro as the winner of the 2006 Tour de France. It looks like we are going to be hearing and reading about this particular Tour de France until next year's race.

Last week, Landis announced plans to appeal arbitrators ruling that he tested positive for synthetic testosterone. According to the conditions in their findings, Landis must surrender the yellow jersey and begin a two-year ban.

If I am Pereiro, I would tell officials to keep the jersey. I wouldn't want a victory that took fifteen months to decide. Even more, I would want to win it fair and square and celebrate with the pomp and circumstance in Paris.

We all wanted this story to come to an end, the wait was interminable, very frustrating and at times I thought the Tour de France had something personal against me," the Caisse d'Epargne rider told reporters at the headquarters of the Spanish Sports Council.

"I now realise the Tour organisers had to wait for a resolution. This is a very important day for me and I'm not going to ruin it by thinking about any appeal."

Landis said last Wednesday he would appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport over the doping case which has also cost him a two-year ban. Pereiro held the yellow jersey for five days but was overhauled as leader when Landis staged an incredible comeback towards the end of the race.

It later emerged his former team mate had failed a doping test but runner-up Pereiro was not awarded victory until a lengthy investigation by the American Arbitration Association ended last month.

"I feel sorry for him," said Pereiro. "He was disqualified after the biggest triumph of his life and won't be able to enjoy it. But as a sportsman you have to stick to the rules."

Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme said Pereiro was the definitive winner.

"At last we have a winner. It has been too long for Oscar Pereiro, his team and for Spain and too long for the Tour de France but the story has finally come to an end," he said.

"You can now take your place in the hall of fame alongside your illustrious countrymen who have won the Tour."