Rasmussen Pleads Innocence and Rails at Rabobank

Michael Rasmussen today denied reports that he lied about his whereabouts in the run-up to this year's Tour de France, as his Rabobank team resumed the race - albeit without their sacked team leader.

The Danish rider, kicked out of the race he was leading after yesterday's 16th stage, declared that team manager Theo de Rooy's decision was the work 'of a desperate man'. Rabobank claimed that Rasmussen told them he was training in Mexico in June while he was actually in Italy, and therefore decided to axe him.

"I'm shattered. I'm on the verge of tears," said Rasmussen today, before reiterating that he was in Mexico in June when the journalist and former rider Davide Cassani claims to have met him during a training ride in Italy. "I wasn't in Italy. Not at all. This is the story about a man, who thinks that he recognized me. There is not a hint of evidence," he said.

"My career is ruined," he added. "I have no idea what I should do or where I will go. This is an enormous blow for me, and also for all the guys from the Rabo team. They're devastated."

Rasmussen also launched a scathing attack on De Rooy's handling of the affair. "He didn't say anything to anyone," said Rasmussen. "Not even the sporting directors were informed. It's the work of a desperate man. He is on the verge of a nervous breakdown."

Despite calls for the Tour to be canceled, the race director Christian Prudhomme insists the race will go on and that Rasmussen's exit "is the best thing that can happen to the Tour". The France Soir newspaper ran a mock obituary for the Tour on its front page today, stating that it had died yesterday "at age 104, after a long illness". Liberation newspaper's editorial read: "The Tour must be stopped. This procession of cyclists has been transformed into a caravan of ridicule."

Today's stage 17 began without a rider in the yellow jersey, which will be awarded to the leader at the end of today's race. Spain's Alberto Contador is now at the head of overall standings.