DENMARK/SPAIN: CYCLING - Rasmussen saga provokes shock and cynicism

Residents of the Danish capital Copenhagen were coming to terms on Thursday (July 26) with the Tour de France dismissal of Danish cyclist Michael Rasmussen. Rasmussen was leading the event after the 16th stage on Wednesday (July 25) but was sacked by Rabobank after the Dutch team said he had lied about his reasons for not being available for pre-event drug-testing. Rasmussen told a Danish newspaper there was no evidence against him and said he was shocked, a reaction mirrored on the streets of Copenhagen. "The man has tested negative at all 14 tests, and then they throw him out, just because the subject is a hot potato at the moment. I cannot cope with that," said bartender Soren Fisher. "It was terrible, simply a shock, even though you suspected that something was going on," said pensioner Irma Pedersen. Cycling is hugely popular in Denmark. A large percentage of the population owns a cycle and the Tour attracts a large audience on Danish TV. "I thought he was the one rider who was clean. Now I don't know. They are probably doped, all of them," said carpenter Thomas Kristensen, who followed the tour intensely until Rasmussen was dismissed. Rasmussen received little sympathy in the Danish press, although he has not been tested positive. At the offices of Ekstra Bladet, which portrayed the saga with a gravestone decorated with the Tour logo, sports editor Hans Larsen said: "If we find out that a top rider consciously tries to circumvent the rules, we have to compare it with something close to doping." 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. The ejection of Rasmussen left Spain's Alberto Contador as leader of the event, an echo of the Tour last year, which was won by American Floyd Landis, who was later tested positive for testosterone and stripped of his crown. But Landis is contesting the decision, meaning overall second placed Oscar Pereiro of Spain is still waiting to learn if he will inherit the 2006 title. Spanish sports newspapers celebrated Contador's elevation to the top of the standings but many people in Madrid said they could not enjoy a leadership earned amid the current doping scandals. "I am not going to watch the tour on television anymore. No matter if the leader is Spanish, German or whom ever. He is not the leader, they are all in drugs, it is just not natural. It is absurd cycling," newspaper kiosk owner Juan told Reuters. "I don't think it is shameful for us, it is the others fault. They are the ones taking those substances," said cycling fan Jose Garcia. Spaniards could be forgiven for being cynical, not only due to the recent events but also as Spain's government-backed investigation into an alleged doping ring, known as 'Operacion Puerto', was shelved in March, without any charges being made. The investigation focused on the suppliers rather than the cyclists, and the health risks, as doping itself is not punishable under Spanish law.

ITN Source | July 27, 2007

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