Rasmussen could soon be back in the saddle

The Dane was leading the Tour when his Rabobank team sacked him, claiming he lied to them - as well as drug testers - about his pre-race whereabouts.

Rasmussen, 33, denies any intentional wrongdoing and is now in negotiations with Italy's Acqua & Sapone team.

"He wants to finish the season with us," team director Palmiro Masciarelli told The Associated Press.

"He showed me all his papers - the problem is with the Danish (cycling) federation. The confusion surrounding this case is enormous."

Masciarelli added that his team could make a decision regarding Rasmussen by early next week.

The rider was quoted as saying in Thursday's Gazzetta dello Sport: "I'm the victim of a great injustice, and my lawyers are working to take care of me.

"I'm an available rider that can start racing even tomorrow," Rasmussen told the newspaper.

"My goal is to find a team because I would like to have a great Giro di Lombardia."

The Giro di Lombardia, the final single-day classic of the cycling season, is scheduled for 20 October.