It seems that the people of Denmark growing weary of tell-all autobiographies from former doping riders, or at least turning out to meet the authors, as Danish newspaper BT reports. Just three people turned up to a signing of Michael Rasmussen’s scandalous new book “Yellow Fever” at the Storkfelt Bog & Idé shop, in Ahlgade, with one of those reportedly being among 12 people to have pre-ordered their copy.
Rasmussen’s book has caused shockwaves through the sport of cycling as he not only confesses to his own career-long doping activities, but also outs many other big names. 2012 Giro d’Italia champion Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Sharp) is one of those feeling the heat after claims in the Danish rider’s book, while former Rabobank teammate Oscar Freire had demanded that Rasmussen withdraw the claim made on a Danish chat show that the Spanish rider was doped during the 2007 Tour de France.
The Danish public has already had to deal with two of its cycling heroes falling from grace by their own confessional autobiographies. In 2010 Saxo Bank team owner Bjarne Riis elaborated on his 2007 confession that he had doped during his 1996 Tour de France victory - a first for Denmark - adding that he had used EPO for much of his career.
Earlier, in 2007 - not long after Rasmussen himself had been ejected from the Tour de France and fired by his Rabobank team - former Danish champion and Tour de France yellow jersey Bo Hamburger had released his own tell-all tome, that admitted lengthy use of doping products in his own career.
Perhaps as a consequence of its two previous heroes’ confessions, despite putting aside an hour for the event - to which several members of the local and national media were in attendance - “The Chicken” had just three visitors interested in getting their hands on a signed copy of the latest account of one of Denmark’s sporting stars fall from grace.