Cycling has been rocked by another confession of systematic doping by a leading rider after Danish cyclist Michael Rasmussen confessed to drug-taking over a 12-year period.

The 38-year-old told a news conference in Denmark he had taken numerous drugs including EPO, human growth hormone, testosterone, insulin and blood transfusions.

Rasmussen, who last year took part in the Tour ta’ Malta, is a former ‘king of the mountains’ in the Tour de France, and was banned for two years in 2007 for telling lies about his whereabouts to drugs testers.

The revelation comes just a fortnight after Lance Armstrong made a full confession to doping during all seven of his Tour de France victories.

Rasmussen has now made a full confession and has pledged to work with the anti-doping authorities.

In a statement, he said: “I am well aware that I have cheated, lied and deceived people and other athletes.

“I am now ready to make good, and I’m ready to take my punishment. I have used doping substances and methods during the period 1998-2010, including EPO, growth hormone, testosterone, DHEA, insulin, IGF-1, cortisone and blood transfusions.

“The specifics of exactly what I did and when have been given to the anti-doping authorities.

“My co-operation with them is based on confidentiality, which means that I cannot disclose further details at this time.

“That time may come later.”