Wheels come off for Rasmussen's Tour

MICHAEL RASMUSSEN'S failure to comply with team rules and yet another failed drugs test - resulting in the withdrawal of the Cofidis cycling team - have left the Tour de France struggling to retain credibility.

It means that Stage 17 today will be raced without a rider in the yellow jersey.

The Rasmussen revelation broke late last night, amid reports the Tour leader had subsequently been removed from the race, and came only hours after Cofidis announced their withdrawal because of Cristian Moreni's positive test. A Rabobank team spokesman confirmed that Dane Rasmussen - who won stage 16 from Orthez to Col d'Aubisque yesterday to retain the yellow jersey - had contravened team policy.

Rasmussen had claimed glory on the demanding Pyrenees mountain-top finish, widely regarded as the toughest stage of this year's Tour. The victory looked to have all but secured overall glory on this year's Tour as the Dane extended his lead to three minutes and ten seconds over second-placed rival Alberto Contador with four races remaining.