Having been accused by Michael Rasmussen for being doped at the 2007 Tour de France, Pieter Weening and Grischa Niermann have hit back at their former captain. Weening tells De Telegraaf that the Dane is frustrated because of his lost case against Rabobank while Niermann denies all accusations.

Yesterday it emerged that Michael Rasmussen had accused the entire Rabobank team of doping during the 2007 Tour de France during a live chat after an interview with Danish broadcaster DR. He later backtracked on his allegations against Oscar Freire and Juan Antonio Flecha who he never saw doping.

However, Pieter Weening and Grischa Niermann still find themselves in the position of being accused of illegal practices and the duo have now responded to the allegations. Yesterday Weening was asked by his Orica-GreenEDGE team to confirm an anti-doping statement he had previously signed, and the Dutchman now claims that Rasmussen's allegations are a testament to his frustration.

 “Desperate needs lead to desperate deeds,” he told De Telegraaf. “Rasmussen comes up with different stories every time. He declared something else when he was under oath at the court. It’s obvious he is frustrated because he lost the case against Rabobank.”

Weening refers to the court case in which Rasmussen to be unrightfully sent home from the 2007 Tour de France. Having originally received 665.000 euros, both parties appealed and Rasmussen ended up losing the case.

While Weening is still an active rider - and had his best ever season in 2013 - Niermann ended his career in 2012. In January, he admitted to having been doped in 2003 but claimed to been clean in the following years.

On national television, he refuses all allegations.

“I don’t know where he gets that from,” he said. “I can say for myself that I only received vitamins and supplements from the team doctor but no banned substances.”

Niermann served a 6-month ban after his confessions but returned to his coaching job at the Rabobank Development Team earlier this year.