Denmark's disgraced former Tour de France leader Michael Rasmussen has been sacked by his Rabobank team

Rasmussen was sensationally withdrawn from the Tour de France late on Wednesday by the team after they discovered he had lied to them about his whereabouts in June.

The 33-year-old rider, who had worn the yellow jersey for over a week and had looked as if he had sealed overall victory when winning Wednesday's stage, had already had his presence in the race questioned after it was revealed he had missed four out of competition dope tests in the past 18 months.

"He lied to me, that is the chief reason (for sacking him)," said de Rooy. "There is no sign of him having been doped. It is simply a breach of trust," he added.

Corrupt race populated by a cast of frauds heading for the gutter

The abject failure of a divided sport to clean up its act has led to renewed calls that the Tour be stopped

Background

• Tour stage starts without yellow jersey

• France mourns 'death of the Tour'

• Rasmussen sacked by Rabobank

• New doping scandal hits the Tour

• Tour in disarray after Vinokourov tests positive

Background

• Rasmussen extends Tour advantage

• Vinokourov bounces back for second stage

• Contador a contender after Pyrenees triumph

• Vinokourov makes it lucky 13

• Rasmussen keeps yellow jersey as Boonen wins

Rasmussen had looked set to erase the memories of compatriot Bjarne Riis's disgrace after the 1996 Tour de France winner confessed recently to having been doped at the time and was subsequently stripped of the title.