http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,22143213-23218,00.html
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"I first started racing against him in March of 1996 at the Sea Otter
classic (mountain bike race) in California, and on that occasion I couldn't
go near him," said the Australian.
"For three years I raced against him in mountain bikes, and I always
finished ahead of him. And then he won the mountain bike world championship
title in 1999, in the elite category. And he rode away from everyone.
Last year, Rasmussen's stage win at La Toussuire helped secure his second
consecutive polka dot jersey for the race's best climber. But his winning
performance also left 70 riders in the "grupetto", the bunch who ride at
their own slow tempo at the back of the race, on the brink of missing the
race's time limit.
"It's strange, his progression. It's just observations I have. What can you
say?" added Evans.
"It's not even progression. He has one or two good days a year, and last
year he nearly put 30 (70 sic) guys out of the time limit. And I heard he
had been suffering in the grupetto himself in the Giro d'Italia.
"It's strange."
But Evans stopped short of saying he is glad the Tour has finally got rid of
Rasmussen.
"I really don't know the truth behind it all. Just because someone has a
good performance you should never accuse them of cheating, because it could
be the result of hard work and good training. But I see what I see."
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