You're just being chauvinistic because Rabobank is Dutch. Rasmussen had it coming.
I'm not sure he "had it coming". If he only "forgot" to mention where he was in the months prior to this event, and subsequently punished by the UCI, then I could live with that, and then he "didn't have it coming". Even if he didn't ride for Rabo.
But now we know he actually lied, then yeah, he deserves to be thrown out. Mind you, he wasn't thrown out by the Tour management, but by his own team. Ofcourse, the Rabo-mangement was under pressure, but still...
But it does make matters more complicated. So many questions...
Why did Rasmussen lie? Was it because he was in need of "stimulating medicine" during his training, or not?
Why didn't anyone at the time mention the fact that Rasmussen was in Italy?
Why wasn't Rasmussen caught using dope during this Tour?
The trouble is that it seems that everyone in the past used some form of dope, and that this year's Tour should be the first real clean one.
But, after these 3 incidents I wonder if anyone really believes if it is remotely possible to make cycling dope-free. It's all about covering it up.
No matter how tough the penalties are, it seems the reasons for using drugs will always outweigh the fear of being caught.
It's a matter of balance: use just enough stuff to make you perform better, but not too much so you get caught... or use some new stuff which can't be traced yet...
Whatever....
I feel for the other riders of the Rabo squad. Dekker, Menchov and especially Boogerd. It is his last Tour, and was performing superbly. Now it seems it all was for nothing, and maybe he won't even arrive in Paris.
Again: Yuck.
