Michael Rasmussen

That's a good one. I'm not really sure. I think Slipstream is probably out of the question. Disco too, since Contador is the leader there.

Maybe Liquigas? It would be some team w/o a GT leader. I think doped or not Rasmussen has shown he can contend for the podium at the Tour.

lwedge said:

So, what is the fate of Michael Rasmussen, will he be picked up by another team?

If so, what team would you like to see him on?

lw

Too early to tell. I think the biggest indicator will be what happens in his legal case. If he's shown to have told the truth, he'll ride again. If he's proven to have lied, he's probably done. Especially if the TDF really does break from the UCI, then they won't accept any team with Rasmussen on it (if he's proven to have lied).

donrhummy said:

Too early to tell. I think the biggest indicator will be what happens in his legal case. If he's shown to have told the truth, he'll ride again. If he's proven to have lied, he's probably done. Especially if the TDF really does break from the UCI, then they won't accept any team with Rasmussen on it (if he's proven to have lied).

I respectfully disagree with that. I think once the doping hysteria clears, people will realize that he didn't break any rules and he'll get a PT contract.

I mean, he didn't break any UCI, WADA or ASO rules, right?

However, that Velonews story is just sitting there like a 300-pound gorilla.

lwedge said:

So, what is the fate of Michael Rasmussen, will he be picked up by another team?

If so, what team would you like to see him on?

lw

He's 33.
Is it likely that another team would select him - given the notoriety of his being removed from LeTour??

Ras is very much a grandtour rider - as opposed to a one day/stage race rider, so I would speculate that a team with grandtour ambitions might be his final destination.
That's assuming of course that there is a team out there willing to hire him.

I'll first say I'm not a fan of this guy at all and in the current climate he's really brought a "guilt by dis-information" factor into what is already a sport with a big PR problem. I also agree that at 33 he's "played out", so any further wins will be at the highest level of scrutiny.

limerickman said:

He's 33.
Is it likely that another team would select him - given the notoriety of his being removed from LeTour??

Ras is very much a grandtour rider - as opposed to a one day/stage race rider, so I would speculate that a team with grandtour ambitions might be his final destination.
That's assuming of course that there is a team out there willing to hire him.

I wouldn't even call Rass a Grand Tour rider.... what the point of not appearing to race all year to then be able to ride up mountains faster than Pantani for 2 weeks a year........ I mean Armstrong had more racing days than him... and I'm not hearing any Giro [censored] from anyone... Rass is a fraud and in the current climate every team wants to sign him but knows ASO won't accept him... try taking that to court DiLuca !

limerickman said:

He's 33.
Is it likely that another team would select him - given the notoriety of his being removed from LeTour??

Ras is very much a grandtour rider - as opposed to a one day/stage race rider, so I would speculate that a team with grandtour ambitions might be his final destination.
That's assuming of course that there is a team out there willing to hire him.

No one thought Tyler Hamilton was hirable, but low and behold.

To me, when you lay it all out and consider it, there's a lot less on Ras than Hamilton or even Di Luca.

whiteboytrash said:

I wouldn't even call Rass a Grand Tour rider.... what the point of not appearing to race all year to then be able to ride up mountains faster than Pantani for 2 weeks a year........ I mean Armstrong had more racing days than him... and I'm not hearing any Giro [censored] from anyone... Rass is a fraud and in the current climate every team wants to sign him but knows ASO won't accept him... try taking that to court DiLuca !

What is the story abour Ras and asking a friend to smuggle doping products for him? I missed that when I was swanning around Italy last week.

Yes he is too old to start over. It is almost impossible for even the best to be out for a time without a team and get the stuff back.
Not much glory left but he will be working at something releted to cycling,you just won't hear about it so much.
Maybe sportswear or vitamins. 😄

Rolfrae said:

What is the story abour Ras and asking a friend to smuggle doping products for him? I missed that when I was swanning around Italy last week.

Here you go...
http://velonews.com/tour2007/news/articles/12851.0.html

shadowboxer said:

Here you go...
velonews.com12851.0.htmlOpen ↗

Thanks for the link. I guess nowadays Ras gets his cow blood in Mexico?