Alex Rasmussen eyeing the Giro d’ Italia and the Tour de France for the 2012 season
Alex Rasmussen of Team Garmin-Barracuda is looking ahead at the Giro d’ Italia as the biggest goal of the current season.
The cyclist has not registered any victories in the 2012 season yet but he is certain to pick the momentum as the season progresses.
The 27-year-old finished second during the closing time trial stage of the Giro d’ Italia 2011. He rode brilliantly but could not overcome David Millar, who is now his team-mate.
Alex started his professional crusade with the Danish side, Team Saxo Bank, and stayed with the side for 2009-10 seasons.
He accepted an offer from Team HTC-Highroad and represented the American side for the year 2011.
Team HTC announced its demise by the end of the 2011 season and Alex had no other option but to find a new home to continue his professional endeavors.
Alex accepted an offer from Jonathan Vaughters’ Team Garmin-Barracuda for the 2012 season and is keen to prove his worth at the coming events.
While commenting on the 2012 version of the Giro, he noted, "I have much respect for the Giro, but there are also many stages that I can look forward to, like the prologue, the flat stages for Tyler [Farrar] and the team time trial".
“Then of course there is also the last week, which looks completely insane, so there I must wait to see how it goes”.
Alex is also interested to ride the Tour de France and he believes that a good performance at the Italian Grand Tour is his only chance to ride the French race.
He briefed, "I'm going out to prove my worth to the team and for Tyler. If he thinks it's cool and he can trust me, there's a good chance that I can be the Tour. So it all depends on me".
The cyclist was temporarily suspended in September after he violated the UCI whereabouts rules and was also removed from the Danish squad.
Rasmussen missed the opportunity to represent his nation at the 2011 UCI World Championships but was cleared from all the charges later on.
UCI appealed against the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport and the hearing is scheduled in the middle of the Giro d’ Italia, May 16, which will decide his fate.
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