Rasmussen has eyes focused on biggest prize

MICHAEL RASMUSSEN is hoping his time-trial failings will not prevent him from winning the Tour de France at the fourth time of asking.

The Dane, current owner of the yellow jersey following his magnificent stage-eight win in Tignes on Sunday, has yet to make it onto the final podium on the Tour.

But with this year’s event seemingly wide open, Rasmussen — an out-and-out climber — could emerge from an ever-expanding pack of possible contenders to claim cycling’s biggest prize.

The 33-year-old admits he is at the peak of his powers and intends to carry on attacking in the mountains to make up for his usual foibles when he races against the clock.

“To have the yellow jersey is unbelievable,” said the Rabobank rider whose best Tour placing of seventh came in 2005.

“It’s amazing. It’s the best moment of my career. But there are still two weeks left and more importantly 110kms of time-trial tests to dispute. Everyone knows that is not my speciality. I am going to have to climb as quickly as possible from now on.”

Sunday’s win was his third stage success in four years on the Tour.

His first came in Mulhouse in 2005 and that was followed by a second triumph a year later in La Toussuire.

The meticulous rider enjoys putting himself through pain on the Tour’s tough climbs, and is so obsessed with the weight of his bike that he is known to peel off any unnecessary stickers and carry just one water bottle.

His prowess in this department is such that he has finished the last two Tours wearing the polka dot jersey — the honour given to the winner of the King of the Mountains classification.

However, his sole focus on climbing means he has few other strings to his bow. He struggled in the prologue time-trial on the opening day of the Tour in London and came into Sunday’s stage in 39th place.

He is regarded as a safe bet to complete a hat-trick of King of the Mountains successes, but does he believe he can go on to win the Tour itself?

“The way I’m riding, I would be stupid not to,” said the Dane, who holds a 43-second lead over second-placed Linus Gerdemann.

“This could be the year because the Pyrenees are very difficult. I am a pure climber. That is the only thing I know how to do. It is useless trying to improve my time-trial speed. I have had no training in that respect.”

The two remaining time trials are on the 13th and 19th stages, but Rasmussen will have to add to his lead in the intervening periods if he is to claim the yellow jersey on the Champs Elysees.

He and the rest of the field enjoyed a rest day yesterday ahead of stage nine, a mountainous pass from Val d’Isere to Briancon.

The day off allowed overall contenders Alexandre Vinokourov, of Kazakhstan, and Germany’s Andreas Kloden more time to recover from their injuries. The Astana pair have both been riding in pain since crashing on Thursday and were left behind by a remorseless Rasmussen on Sunday.

However, they are still in with a chance of glory — Kloden is 12th overall while Vinokourov is 22nd.

Kloden fractured his tailbone in his fall on Thursday, while Vinokourov needed stitches to a deep cut on his right knee after his chain snapped on the same stage.