Yesterday Michael Rasmussen accused Oscar Freire and Juan Antonio Flecha of doping during the 2007 Tour de France but the former has reacted angrily to the allegations, denying ever being involved in any malpractices. Having been asked by Freire to prove his allegations, Rasmussen admits that he never saw the two Spaniards doping.

Michael Rasmussen's recent allegations published in his autobiography Yellow Fever have rocked the cycling world and yesterday the Dane took it to another level when he accused the entire Rabobank team in the 2007 Tour de France of doping. The allegations were made in an interview with Danish broadcaster DR.

One of the riders who rode the Tour that year, was triple world champion Oscar Freire and the Spaniard has reacted quickly to the accusations. According to Velonation, he firmly denies ever being involved in doping and had contacted Rasmussen.

“He said that he has never mentioned my name," Freire said. "I don’t understand. He can speak for himself or for those who he has seen take substances, but not the whole team. I won’t allow that."
 

He indicates that he may take legal action if Rasmussen doesn't deny the claims.

“I hope he proves it because if not, I’ll take action," he said.

“Probably what Rasmussen wants is to sell many books, but it cannot be.  These things do a lot of damage to cycling and to all of those who have been part of it.”

Rasmussen has answered Freire in a statement and backtracks on his allegations that Freire and Juan Antonio Flecha who was also part of the team that year.

“There was organized doping, but it did not include all the riders," he wrote. "Not once in my life did I see Oscar Freire doping. Flecha as well, he also didn’t know anything.”

Freire didn't have much success in that year's Tour and abandoned the race after stage 6 due to a saddle sore. Flecha rode the race all the way to the end, working hard to defend Rasmussen's yellow jersey for most of the race. Both riders have retired, Freire at the end of the 2012 season and Flecha after finishing the Tour of Beijing less than one month ago.

Earlier today, Orica-GreenEDGE asked Pieter Weening who was also on the 2007 Tour team, to confirm an earlier statement that he has never been part of any doping practices.