Now that the Apline section of the Tour de France is over, Michael Rasmussen safely in Yellow possibly until Saturday’s Time Trial at Albi.The Time Trial will be the key to Rasmussen winning the Tour overall. The famouse meltdown that he experienced in the Tour’s last Time Trial in 2005 is legendary. The Danish climbing specialist comes to road racing from a mountain biking background. That would theoretically mean that he should be a better than average bike handler as far as road racers are concerned. Here is a video from Youtube showing the dreaded highlights of Rasmussen’s 2005 Time Trial.
Watching the video the impression is that 1) Rasmussen did not spend much if any time training on his time trial bike. He looks uncomfortable riding it especially on the descents. 2) He is a bundle of nerves and is choking. Yes, the Chicken was choking that day 
Now compare this to earlier in the 2005 Tour when Rasmussen was on one of his customary solo mountain stage breakaways.
Very smooth and fast. He definitely looks like a better bike handler there than in his TT bike. If Rasmussen does hope to be in Yellow in Paris then hopefully he has been training at least once a week on his TT bike.
James
That time trial performance was almost painful to watch during the 05 tour. I couldn’t help but feel bad for the guy. I am predicting that his TT form will be much better tomorrow, but that he will still lose time (and the yellow jersey). Oh well, he can always wear polka dots.