Michael Rasmussen's run on Denmark's popular Awkward Dancing with the Stars is over. Among the highlights of a recent episode featuring Enrique Iglesias:

1.34 Michael shakes his booty

2.08 Michael is a flickery flame

2.16 Michael is at the base of an alarmingly wobbly human pyramid

3.56 Michael does a terrible Peter Andre but a surprisingly good cartwheel



A Viennese waltz proved the Chicken's downfall in this week's show, but as one door closes, another may be about to open.

Velo Nation reports Rasmussen could be about to sign at Saxo Bank-SunGard.

Rasmussen completed his two-year suspension for lying about his whereabouts to anti-doping authorities over a year ago.

Team director Bjarne Riis has previously backed Rasmussen's right to return to the sport but as recently as August denied rumours he was preparing to sign the former yellow jersey wearer.

In news that may have equal ramifications for Saxo Bank-SunGard and the suburban Denmark cabaret scene, the UCI is expected to rule this month on whether Riis will have a general classification rider next year.

Spring fashions

Next time you are invited to the champagne-and-supermodels tent at your local racetrack, consider the Vinobrero

Mr Jonty's dereliction of duty

If you are Victoria Pendleton's next-door neighbour it is going to be a long couple of years.

The British track queen and raging favourite for three gold medals at the London Olympics is already tortured by nightmares.

In an interview with the Guardian, Pendleton revealed she has a Smashing Pumpkins tattoo, a Doberman called Mr Jonty, is a hero to members of the Prodigy, and in her dreams is chased by a killer.

In the Broom Wagon's dreams, by contrast, there is usually a huge self-cannibalising pudding hovering over the city.



"The fact that I'm already having all these bad dreams about being chased is a bit worrying," Pendleton said, in what many assumed was a veiled attack on Mr Jonty.

"I'm always being chased by a monster. Sometimes the monster is a killer or a murderer. It doesn't really matter because I know exactly what that monster is as it hunts me down. The monster's got a big 2012 written all over it."

Mr Jonty or no Mr Jonty, being chased by Keith from the Prodigy in a London Olympics tracksuit would be enough to give anyone the night terrors.

Dispatches from the Twitterverse

TDF winner Floyd Landis is racing again. Hope he lays off the whiskey this week. I've seen what he does to pelotons after a few fine malts. - @Greghenderson1

I'm very happy to announce that I will join Team Sky for 2011-2012! - @mickrogers

Had a nice easy coffee shop ride into Italy this morning with Eddy Merckx, not every day that happens! -@richie_porte

Going on holidays with Mrs Renshaw :-) - @Mark_Renshaw

Just found my T.V. remote in the freezer... - @dzabriskie

Classic YouTube

Canadian Steve Bauer bridged a huge gap to contest the three-way sprint to decide the 1988 world championship in Ronse, Belgium. Bauer led out local hero Claude Criquielion on the uphill finish, with Italian up-and-comer Maurizio Fondriest two bike lengths adrift. Then came Bauer's 'Oh, Canada' moment.