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July 25, 2007

Rasmussen withdrawn, fired by Rabobank

cyclingnews.com | Cycling News Flash for July 26, 2007: Rasmussen pulled out of Tour

CyclingNews reports that Rabobank has withdrawn Michael Rasmussen from the Tour, and that he will not take the start tomorrow.

CyclingNews suggests it could relate to a report by Italian TV commentator Davide Cassani, who claims to have seen Rasmussen training in the Dolomites on June 13th or 14th, while Rasmussen claims he was in Mexico for training.

DeRooy will not withdraw the entire team, but will allow the riders to choose to start the stage tomorrow.

Also:

VeloNews.com | News Flash: Rasmussen pulled out of Tour, fired by Rabobank

Adds that Rasmussen is also fired from the team.

iol Sport | Rasmussen kicked out of Tour de France

However the team has learnt that Rasmussen lied to them over where and what he was up to during the month of June when he was in fact in Italy and not in Mexico as he had told them.

Posted by Frank Steele on July 25, 2007 in Doping, Michael Rasmussen, Top Stories | Permalink

Comments

Im sorry to say it, but i do not feel sorry for Michael Rasmussen.
He is a jerk ,why did he lie about where and what he was up to during the month of June ???
I must say that he deserves what he gets !
I´ve been following him and been proud of being danish , now im embarressed .
Just me being p!ssed off ! :-)

Posted by: Dan at Jul 25, 2007 5:51:28 PM

Are you serious???

Posted by: elton at Jul 25, 2007 5:56:53 PM

Given the uncertainty with his training schedule before the TDF, he should have been pulled earlier. Now, while also a huge blow to the TDF, it'll probably be better in the long run; we don't want another Landis situation, do we?

Posted by: Elton at Jul 25, 2007 6:02:25 PM

Why is it that no pharmaceutical companies sponsor a Tour de France bike team? I think they a missing a wonderful opportunity to promote their performance enhancing drugs. They could have slogans like “Allowing you to perform above your wildest dreams” of “Taking your performance to levels that were never possible before"

With the way the Tour is headed this year, a pharmaceutical company sponsored team could at least have some pride in being honest in what they are doing to win.

Posted by: art at Jul 25, 2007 6:22:36 PM

Is this the worst tour since the 1998 Tour of Shame with the Festina team?

Landis was embarrassing, this Tour is criminal. Any bets on the next person to fail a test?

Will Discovery be untouched? Will Leipheimer win the Tour and will anyone care?

Posted by: Expat Teacher at Jul 25, 2007 6:23:58 PM

WTF?

So long Skeletor!

Frank! Are there any riders in The Tour that aren't cheating?

What a public relations disaster.

Posted by: Brooke at Jul 25, 2007 6:27:20 PM

Holy F***! It's one thing after another. Just when I'm thinking this can't get any worse I turn on the computer and find another bombshell.

I was in London for the Grand Depart and it was such an incredible day, even if the bastards rode too fast for me to catch a single one of them on film.

And then, bam, bam, bam!

No, I'm not sorry for Rasmussen either. But I was hoping someone clean (and I hope to God that Contador and Leipheimer are clean) would beat him, humiliate him on the road.

Now Contador's got the yellow jersey, but what a way to get it, and who knows what's next? Now I'll be amazed if there AREN'T more doping crises, when it should be the other way around.

Posted by: Chris at Jul 25, 2007 6:28:12 PM

The Tour is over. You people are crazy. I know what happened here. The crazy witchhunters pressured Rasmussen's teams' sponsors to boot him off if they wanted to keep their sponsorship. It wasn't the team who did it; it was the tour and these crazy dope hunters who must be dopping themselves to be so crazy. I was coming to France in August. I'm not coming now. There are enough crazy people in America. I don't need anymore! The Tour is dead. Lance ought to give you back all his seven yellow jerseys, that's how meaningless this tour has become. You can't believe he didn't take drugs either. The most dangerous thing in bicyclist can do if he wants to maintain his career is compete in the Tour de France, particularly if he wins! I'm done with you.

Posted by: Linda at Jul 25, 2007 6:34:52 PM

Well, gee, now we know why he's been so strong! I didn't hear the alleged mocking and booing from the crowd on TV today, but I half expected some angry fan to rip him off his bike -- and that was before this bombshell. Since Chicken had stretched the rules to their limits, it seemed clear to me that there must have been a reason to do so.

John (Beard's friend in FLA)

Posted by: John M at Jul 25, 2007 6:35:40 PM

Imagine what would happen to a sport like say, American football or baseball if they tested like cycling does and is trying to do. Perahps that's the only way to really salary cap because the teams would not make the money they do now without fan support.

The sensationalism from todays news other news (Vino) has some saying Cycling is done for but I'm happy to see this type of purge coming for the cheaters and those that are dishonest.

As for Rasmmussen's riding, jerk, liar or otherwise, he's an impressive rider to watch in the mountains.

Posted by: kendall at Jul 25, 2007 6:40:58 PM

This is getting outrageous, we've now seen two leading lights of cycling destroy their careers, and another handful of lesser lights of cycling also tossed out just during this tour.

The Tour will be decided by whatever riders don't get thrown out.

Posted by: Robin Roberts at Jul 25, 2007 6:42:24 PM

Ugh! He should have never started in any case, but glad this one is solved. It's pretty straightforward. He gave bad information and he violated some clearly defined rules.

Posted by: WheelHound at Jul 25, 2007 6:56:10 PM

I think that everyone has an opinion before the full story is known and it is far to easy to accuse from the arm chair. Why have the team managers etc not been on top of ensuring that their athletes are clean if this is so important? They are being paid money to cycle for the team so the team should ensure they meet their standards.

Posted by: Ali at Jul 25, 2007 6:58:03 PM

who cares where he was? was it that big a deal? why fire your only hope of winning a tour? is rabobank his mother?

Posted by: chris at Jul 25, 2007 7:06:52 PM

I am an avid cyclist who can't help but watch the Tour de France. I have vowed to just ride for myself and ignore professional level events, due to what appears to be rampant doping and cheating. With the latest news of Rasmussen being fired and the whole Cofidis Team withdrawl... not to mention Vinokourov's alleged cheating, I find myself absolutely ill over cyclings apparent current state of affairs. It is getting harder to believe that anyone in pro cycling is honest and clean. The pros need to STOP looking like a bunch of idiots and race clean.

Posted by: Hutch at Jul 25, 2007 7:27:45 PM

Where do these athletes get off? It is more about the integrity of the great sports than the winning. Having coached at several levels of sports I am always concerned tha my athletes did the right thing, winning is a by-product of doing just that. Can the TDF even continue based on the last several years.

I would suggest not withou a total overall of the system and testing procedures.

Just my thoughts

Posted by: Steve at Jul 25, 2007 7:47:28 PM

Why do I feel more relieved for cycling and the Tour de France than sorry for the disappointed Dane? Why do I feel more like a cloud has been lifted from the Tour instead of feeling sad about an athlete apparently being trapped in a cycle of deception (including self-deception) triggered by his competitive environment? I don't know; but that's my response. I feel like the Tour and professional cycling just dodged a bullet and got another chance to move in the right direction.

Posted by: John Hay, Jr. at Jul 25, 2007 8:01:07 PM

I personally think that, its not really anyones business where he was... I mean, if your a celebrity of any stature, they all want to be left alone. Maybe he wanted to train where nobody could find him, follow him etc. What is the world coming too. Judging people, accusing, people need to go and find something to do with their lives other that gossip and cause problems for others.. GET A LIFE!!!!!

Posted by: Daneil at Jul 25, 2007 8:48:27 PM

I know who will win the Tour De France... The last rider who tests positive.....

Posted by: pat at Jul 25, 2007 8:51:15 PM

OH!!! Does anyone give a rats A*! where i'm at or what i'm doing? Why? Because i'm not in the spotlight. And if i was there. I would bend the truth of where i'm at so i don't have vultures over me.. Look at the damage paparazzi and others have caused to people over the years.. Think about it.. Remembering Princess Diane!!!!!

Posted by: Daniel at Jul 25, 2007 8:57:07 PM