International Cycling Union president Patrick McQuaid says he wants someone besides current leader Michael Rasmussen, right, to win the Tour de France.
“From an image point of view, it would be better if it was not Rasmussen but one of the youngest riders winning the Tour,” McQuaid told reporters.
Hmmm. Youngest rider. How about 24-year-old Alberto Contador of the Discovery Channel team? He's Number 2 overall.
Maybe the French customs officials were trying to help out McQuaid when they raided team buses for Rabobank, Discovery Channel, Astana and CSC on Monday. No official word on what, if anything, was found.
Didn't notify
McQuaid has it out for the Danish cyclist on the Rabobank team because he didn't notify authorities of his whereabouts while training in June and he couldn't be tested. He received two warnings; a third would have been considered a positive test and could have resulted in a two-year suspension.
While he's been allowed to race in the Tour de France, Rasmussen was booted from Denmark's national team and will not compete in next year's Summer Olympics.
Also, VeloNews reports that Rasmussen asked a former teammate to transport a shoebox in his luggage for him back in 2002. When he opened it, he discovered it contained some blood-doping substances.
Rasmussen denies
Rasmussen denied that charge. It will surely arise again when Rasmussen meets the media during the press conference on Tuesday. He may find that more stressful than battling Contador up the Pyrenees.
British cyclist David Millar, who has become a huge proponent of clean cycling after serving his two-year suspension for doping, also attacked Rasmussen for not notifying authorities of his whereabouts. He told the Guardian:
“He's now shrouded in suspicion, and rightfully so. It is unacceptable of a rider of his stature and responsibilities to not have his whereabouts supplied to the right authorities. For sure, it is possible for it to slip through the system due to slow Mexican mail, or whatever, but it is up to him to confirm that it has been received so as not to have this situation arise.”
As for now, it looks like it's up to the peloton to see that he doesn't hold the yellow jersey, and they've been unable to take it from him since he captured it on the 8th stage.
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