Rasmussen still hopes to ride the Vuelta

Michael Rasmussen says he hopes to race in this year's Vuelta a España, as he continues to look for a new professional team after returning to competition last month. Danish and Dutch media outlets have reported that the former Rabobank rider has been in contact with a number of teams, including one that will race the Spanish Grand Tour.

The Danish rider returned to racing on July 24, when he finished second in the Designa Grand Prix in Denmark. He had served a two-year suspension for having lied to anti-doping authorities about his whereabouts in the months prior to the 2007 Tour de France.

“There is a team which approached me this weekend, and if it falls into place, it looks very promising,” Rasmussen told the Danish website, feltet.dk. “My sporting ambitions could be satisfied if I get the contract, so obviously I hope it becomes a reality.” He did not reveal the name of the team, but indicated that it would be riding the Vuelta a España.

However, he has also told the Dutch magazine Sportweek that he was still looking for a new team, possibly a smaller, pro continental Italian team. The magazine indicated that Rasmussen had been in negotiations with Amore & Vita, which would have required him to admit his mistakes before signing a contract.

Last month Rasmussen claimed that the UCI put pressure on Italian team Ceramica Flaminia not to sign him, saying the UCI had “black-listed” him after his alleged involvement in the Austrian Humanplasma investigation. Both the UCI and the team denied the claims.