Is this really why Rasmussen was thrown out?

I think as this was the last straw. Was it correct? Time will tell. Vino and Cofidis built pressure that may have forced this decision. As for his career? If he's telling the truth about his whereabouts -- which is easily proven -- about why he missed two controls just before the Tour, about the VeloNews story, then he'll be vindicated big time and his career will flourish.

I think he's saying his career is over because he knows it's over and at this point it's easier to move on than face the mountain of evidence that faces him.

If Rasmussen were really in Mexico, he would have a lot of proofs, like credit cards, passport, travel ticket and so.
If he want to sue he just have to know it's easy to verify his mobile phone line. It would be stranhe if his phone was used in Italy as he would have been in Mexico.

And if Rabo gives him no reason it's only to avoid problem. They can play in tribunal, we reired him because he was tarnishing our sponsor.
But all of that it's just chicken brainstorming.

limerickman posted on a different thread that there's more to come out about this, and i'd agree.

I assume he said his career is over because of his age too.

trucker39 said:

limerickman posted on a different thread that there's more to come out about this, and i'd agree.

I assume he said his career is over because of his age too.

OK, so the question then is: IF there's nothing more to this, IF it really is just this guy's eyewitness account, then how do you feel about them throwing Ras out 4 days before the end?

donrhummy said:

OK, so the question then is: IF there's nothing more to this, IF it really is just this guy's eyewitness account, then how do you feel about them throwing Ras out 4 days before the end?

In such a scenario, his dismissal seems to have been more politically motivated than for sporting reasons.

OF COURSE there is more to this than a lone eyewitness, until they get more "ducks in a row", then the self sustaining eyewitness account is the only evidence that will be publicly disclosed.

This stuff is for real, this is not your sister narcing your ass off to your mom, there are HUGE sums of cash and reputations at stake. The sponsors are furious.

Erzulis Boat said:

OF COURSE there is more to this than a lone eyewitness, until they get more "ducks in a row", then the self sustaining eyewitness account is the only evidence that will be publicly disclosed.

This stuff is for real, this is not your sister narcing your ass off to your mom, there are HUGE sums of cash and reputations at stake. The sponsors are furious.

Why of course? There were people thrown out of the TDF last year without evidence and then let back in this year because they had to drop the evidence. Petacchi was not allowed to compete and look, "turns out" he was innocent.

L'Equipe reports Rasmussen as having said this:

"Michael Rasmussen s'est exprimé ce jeudi dans un entretien diffusé sur le site internet du quotidien danois B.T, moins de vingt-quatre heures après avoir été exclu du Tour de France par son équipe. L'ex-maillot jaune de la Grande Boucle 2007 fustige Theo de Rooy, le manager de la Rabobank, n'hésitant pas à le traiter de fou : «Je n'étais pas en Italie à ce moment-là. Ça c'est l'histoire d'un homme (Davide Cassani) qui pense m'avoir reconnu. Mais il n'y a pas une seule preuve. Mon chef est fou», se défend Rasmussen, soupçonné d'avoir menti à propos de son lieu de séjour pour éviter un test anti-dopage inopiné. Apparemment très émoussé par cette affaire, selon le quotidien scandinave, Rasmussen se dit «brisé, détruit» par l'ampleur du scandale et reste très incertain quant à la suite de sa carrière."

Roughly translated:

"Rasmussen was interviewed by the Danish BT newspaper Thursday, less than 24 hours after he was booted from the Tour by his team. The former yellow jersey wearer did not mince words with respect to Theor de Rooy, the Rabobank manager: 'I wasn't in Italy at that point. This is the story of a man (Davide Cassani) who thinks he recognized me. But there isn't a single piece of evidence. My boss if crazy [He is referring to de Rooy]," Rasmussen said in his own defense.... Apparently very affected by recent developments, according to the Scandanavian newpaper, Rasmussen described himself as "[something], destroyed" by the magnitude of the scandal and remains very uncertain about his career prospects."

Cow blood did Ras in. Hemopure with two credible witnesses!

No cow blood transfusions may be debated in Paris.

Which is why Alberto Contador had better fall off his bike in the time trial.

Discovery must allow Cadel Evans to win and walk away quietly.

Lance has Nike endorsed Cancer marketing to do this summer.

helmutRoole2 said:

I think as this was the last straw. Was it correct? Time will tell. Vino and Cofidis built pressure that may have forced this decision. As for his career? If he's telling the truth about his whereabouts -- which is easily proven -- about why he missed two controls just before the Tour, about the VeloNews story, then he'll be vindicated big time and his career will flourish.

I think he's saying his career is over because he knows it's over and at this point it's easier to move on than face the mountain of evidence that faces him.

Not sure if any one has mentioned this but why hasn't anyone checked his passport for proof of travel?
And surely he must have airline tickets/reservation that can easily backup his claim?

Hopefully some one will come out and talk about all of Cassani's dirty secrets from his time as a pro.

Then maybe he will lose his job as well.

donrhummy said:

Why of course? There were people thrown out of the TDF last year without evidence and then let back in this year because they had to drop the evidence. Petacchi was not allowed to compete and look, "turns out" he was innocent.

Why have you turns out in inverted comma? No need to make a conspiracy where there is none..

trucker39 said:

Why have you turns out in inverted comma? No need to make a conspiracy where there is none.

Sorry, maybe quotes weren't right. i meant it as a commentary on UCI and how they'd affected a guy's career (and his team's) by assuming him guilty before proven innocent.

The ASO could not have a tour winner booed in paris. They forced Robank to drop the hammer on Chicken Legs. Watching today awards as I type, when was the last time a yellow jersey reciprocant could not manage a smile?

donrhummy said:

OK, so the question then is: IF there's nothing more to this, IF it really is just this guy's eyewitness account, then how do you feel about them throwing Ras out 4 days before the end?

IF that's all the new info they had - one guy saying he saw someone training in Italy who he was "sure" was Ras - then this is a very skimpy basis on which to yank him now. The truth is that they should never have let him start in the first place. Having made that initial mistake, the sponsor was aghast when they saw the crowds booing the leader who was wearing their corporate logo, and reading all the negative press. Can you imagine the debacle that the winner's ceremony in Paris would have been after several more days public outrage built up over this guy? Bottom line, they yanked him when they realized the mistake they'd made by letting him start in the first place.

fbircher said:

IF that's all the new info they had - one guy saying he saw someone training in Italy who he was "sure" was Ras - then this is a very skimpy basis on which to yank him now. The truth is that they should never have let him start in the first place. Having made that initial mistake, the sponsor was aghast when they saw the crowds booing the leader who was wearing their corporate logo, and reading all the negative press. Can you imagine the debacle that the winner's ceremony in Paris would have been after several more days public outrage built up over this guy? Bottom line, they yanked him when they realized the mistake they'd made by letting him start in the first place.

I would like to disagree. Rabobank is a Dutch bank and the last 2 weeks they have gotten great press over here. Seriously one 2 week long 7 hour a day free commercial. It is now that they have pulled rasmussen that people are turning in their accounts at the bank. Because they think the bank should have stuck up for Ras and they feel it is the French media that has condemned Rasmussen and not facts. (Now that is stupid as well, but anyway the above is the summary of the situation in the banks home nation)

Was it ee cummings who said the world would end with a whimper and not a bang?

I would be sad if this Ramussen story didn't play out to the end with a big bang, on way or the other, because as things stand now the doping story is just as credible as the conspiracy theory that the forces of evil threw him out.

Either he wasdoping or he [censored] the old boys club.

I want to know which is the real story. His stupidity and sheer lack of any consideration about the consequences of his actions make almost anything possible.

You know, money created the doping problem and only money can end it. The sponsors need to form a united front against doping and agree together to withdraw support from any team where there is a doping incident. Personal responsiblity is needed.

ASO couldn't afford another Landis. Late July, and the 2006 winner still isn't known. They simply cannot afford to have that happen two years in a row. It would utterly kill the Tour. They need someone on the podium that is likely to stay there.

It sucks that the outcome has been influenced like this, but then again, none of this would be happening if it weren't for a doping problem. The solution is dopey, but so is the problem.

Frihed89 said:

You know, money created the doping problem and only money can end it. The sponsors need to form a united front against doping and agree together to withdraw support from any team where there is a doping incident. Personal responsiblity is needed.

Ehhhh.... I hear you, but sponsors come and go. Riders come and go. Teams, the same. The only constant are big races, the monuments of the sport. That's where the battle lines are drawn for the year. I think it's up to the race organizations to come up with something.

Testing
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