Chris Froome made reference to the ongoing furore surrounding his participation in the Giro d'Italia as the Briton was named in Team Sky's squad for the race, which begins in Jerusalem next week.
The 32-year-old is under scrutiny over an adverse finding for elevated levels of salbutamol at last year's La Vuelta, which he won.
As the asthma medication is a specified substance, the four-time Tour de France winner can continue racing and he continues to deny wrongdoing, bidding to prove his use of the substance was legitimate.
The Giro begins on May 4, with the first three stages in Israel, and concludes in Rome on May 27, with Froome bidding to be the winner of all three Grand Tours -- of France, Spain and Italy -- at the same time.
Whether Froome will line up to target a fifth yellow jersey at the Tour in July will likely be decided by administrators, lawyers and experts considering the salbutamol reading which has left a series of questions unanswered.
"Of course there is an element of risk involved in targeting the Giro before the Tour, but I think I would regret it for the rest of my life if I didn't give this race a go," Froome said.
"I also recognise the wider issues and as I have said before I am doing everything I can, together with the team, to help resolve them as quickly as possible.
"In the meantime I am focused on racing. I would love to win the maglia rosa [the Giro race winner's pink jersey], but I am under no illusions whatsoever about how hard the race will be."
Froome will be joined in the Team Sky squad by Vasil Kiryienka of Belarus, Germany's Christian Knees and Colombia's Sergio Henao - all of whom helped him win a fourth Tour last July.
Wout Poels of Holland, Spain's David de la Cruz, Salvatore Puccio of Italy and France's Kenny Elissonde - the one change from the provisional line-up announced by race organisers earlier this week - complete the Team Sky squad.
Froome lived in Italy in the early part of his career and is now based in Monaco.
He is racing in the Giro for the first time since 2010, in Team Sky's debut season, and says the new target has given him a boost.
"The Giro is special and full of history, and I am looking forward to racing it again after almost a decade," Froome added.
"I've had a different start to the season as I've obviously been aiming to try and reach my peak quite a bit earlier than usual.
"But the target of going for a third consecutive Grand Tour has given me new motivation."
Team Sky principal Sir Dave Brailsford added: "We have been on the podium before but have never won the maglia rosa which is a great ambition for us.
"Chris is also going for a third consecutive Grand Tour. Everyone in cycling knows just how tough that is. We have a strong, talented and versatile team supporting him. Every rider will have an important contribution to make."
Froome is not the only Briton starting with designs on the pink jersey, as Simon Yates has been named as joint leader of the Australian Mitchelton-Scott squad.