NETHERLANDS: CYCLING - Rabobank back Rasmussen sacking but say they have not immediate plans to pull out from sponsorship

Record ID: 561864

  • Title: NETHERLANDS: CYCLING - Rabobank back Rasmussen sacking but say they have not immediate plans to pull out from sponsorship
  • Date: 27th July 2007
  • Summary: UTRECHT, NETHERLANDS (JULY 26, 2007) EXTERIORS OF RABOBANK OFFICES (Soundbite) (English) HELEEN CRIELAARD, HEAD OF SPONSORSHIP FOR RABOBANK - "Well, of course it's not good for cycling in total but the way, the direction, that Rabobank decided to get Rasmussen out of the Tour de France I think that is very strong and that shows we don't like cheaters and we only want a fair competition." (Soundbite) (English) HELEEN CRIELAARD, HEAD OF SPONSORSHIP FOR RABOBANK - "He's not stated posative so we don't state at all that he's using doping. But we try very hard to get the world of cycling clean and if you want to do that you have to make strong rules and if you really want to make the sport clean you have to make sure that the rules are followed by everybody and in the first place by your own cyclists by the people who work in your team." (Soundbite) (English) HELEEN CRIELAARD, HEAD OF SPONSORSHIP FOR RABOBANK - "Well I think it's a good thing of the direction of the Rabobank team to take him out because if somebody is cheating you cannot trust them any more and that's something we definitely don't want. We want to be trusted so you have to take these steps." (Soundbite) (English) HELEEN CRIELAARD, HEAD OF SPONSORSHIP FOR RABOBANK - "Our role in cycling in the Netherlands is a lot more than just the pro tour team. So this is absolutely a bad day but it's not a reason to directly finish our role in cycling in the Netherlands." CLOSE UP RABOBANK TOUR DE FRANCE PROMOTIONAL LITERATURE
  • Embargoed: 11th August 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Netherlands
  • Country: Netherlands
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVABXLTHJCWTA6P5UAXVC3WHJ2T1
  • Story Text: Rabobank have described the sacking of Tour de France leader Michael Rasmussen 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.
    Despite the Rasmussen episode, Rabobank's head of sponsorchip Heleen Crielaard said there were no plans for the bank to withdraw their support for cycling.
    "Our role in cycling in the Netherlands is a lot more than just the pro tour team. So this is absolutely a bad day but it's not a reason to directly finish our role in cycling in the Netherlands," said Crielaard.
    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 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.
    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.
    Rabobank have sponsored cycling at all levels for 12 years and spend several million euros annually on the sport.
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