Amidst controversy, riders compete in 17th stage

PAU, France, July 26 (Reuters) -- Reeling, but not yet sunk, the Tour de France resumed on Thursday without its leader and two teams for the 17th stage to Castelsarasin.

Dane Michael Rasmussen was dramatically sacked by Rabobank on Wednesday after the Dutch team said he had lied about his training whereabouts in June.

Rabobank said Rasmussen told them he was training in Mexico in June while he was actually in Italy and therefore decided to kick him out.

"Rabobank is shocked and enormously disappointed that Rasmussen has lied about his whereabouts," the team said.

Rasmussen denied being in Italy.

"I am shattered," Rasmussen told Danish tabloid BT. "I am on the verge of tears. I was not in Italy. Not at all. That's the story of one man who believes he recognised me. There is no hint of evidence."

Rabobank described the episode as "a dark page" in their history but decided that the rest of the team was continuing in the world's greatest stage race.

The team's sponsors said on Thursday the team was carrying out extra doping tests on its riders at the Tour and that it had already decided to do so before Rasmussen's dismissal.

"The cyclists are not under suspicion, but as a sponsor, we want to be absolutely sure that our team is competing in good health," said Thomas van Rijckevorsel, a member of the Rabo Cycling Team's supervisory board.

TWO WARNINGS

It also emerged that Rasmussen had received two warnings from the UCI, the second on June 29, for failing to provide the sport's governing body with his training whereabouts. According to the sport's rule book, he should not have even started the Tour.

"In a case of a recorded warning or a missed test in a period of 45 days before the start of a Major Tour, the rider is not allowed to participate in that Tour," UCI Cycling Regulations state.

Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme welcomed the news of Rasmussen's sacking.

"This is the best piece of news we've had in the last eight days," Prudhomme told a news conference.

Rasmussen's dismissal was the latest blow to the Tour's credibility, coming soon after the announcement of positive dope tests on pre-race favourite Alexander Vinokourov and Italy's Cristian Moreni.

Vinokourov's Astana team and Moreni's Cofidis have both pulled out of the race.

After Rasmussen's departure the yellow jersey passed to Spain's Alberto Contador but, under race rules, it was not being worn by any rider during Thursday's stage.

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