Danish rider Michael Rasmussen has ruled out the notion that he could step into Alberto Contador’s shoes as Saxo Bank team leader if the Spaniard incurs a lengthy suspension, essentially admitting that his days as a contender for the Tour de France title are gone.
“Contador is irreplaceable,” he told Ekstra Bladet. “It would be extremely optimistic to hire me and believe that the team could then start the Tour de France and win. Contador is still the world’s best stage race rider. It is three years since I had it. But I can still fill a role at a level just below Contador.”
Rasmussen started talking to the team several months ago. He has a personal sponsor, the watch designer Christina Hembo, who is prepared to pay his salary. However, even with that financial consideration sorted out, Saxo Bank boss Bjarne Riis has hesitated in signing him.
Hembo explained earlier this year that she felt he deserved a second chance. “Whether it was right or not that he was kicked out of the 2007 Tour De France - I think not - then it's certainly no doubt that the suspension against him is now a closed chapter,” she said in a statement issued at the time. “Thus, Michael has just as much right as everyone else to race in both Kjellerup [the first venue where he was due to wear her logo on his jersey] and indeed the Tour de France. Documented doped cyclists as Vinokourov and Basso may race there, Michael may not. I do not understand that.
“If I could give a hand and help Michael back on the international scene, it will give me great pleasure,” she stated.
Riis has said that the Tour de France King of the Mountains winner is entitled to a second chance after his two year suspension, but stated in August that he is not obliged to be the one to take him on board.
Rasmussen has said that Riis has still not given him an answer. “I think my chance to race at Team Saxo Bank is unchanged. The Contador situation has no positive effect on anyone, including me. If Bjarne Riis thinks I’m interesting as a rider on his team, then that’s the case whether Contador is running the team or not.”
The Dane got into hot water over giving false information in the run-up to the 2007 Tour de France. His Rabobank team removed him from the race while wearing the yellow jersey, and looking like the almost-certain winner.
Alberto Contador was the rider in second place and won the race as a result. Now he’s the one under scrutiny. As far as Rasmussen is concerned, he believes the Spaniard’s contention that that the traces of Clenbuterol in his samples came from tainted meat.
“It is the only plausible explanation. The quantity measured is so infinitely small that as far as I understand it, it is impossible to administer,” he said. “You’ll have to judge whether what is found is performance enhancing. What Contador is found positive for has no performance-enhancing effect. The system leaves no room for common sense.”
Triple Tour winner Contador is currently the subject of an enquiry, which is being conducted by the UCI and likely to be closely watched by WADA.