Tour leader Rasmussen sacked, out of race
(Reuters)Updated: 2007-07-26 08:25
Factboax of Danish rider Michael Rasmussen
Factbox on Denmark's Michael Rasmussen, who has been sacked by his team Rabobank when leading the Tour de France with only four days left and forced out of the race.
Born: June 1, 1974 in Copenhagen
Team: Rabobank
Height: 1.75 metres. Weight: 60 kilos
*After a successful career in mountain biking, Rasmussen made the transition to the road in 2002.
*He joined Danish team CSC but could not adjust to the methods of manager and 1996 Tour champion Bjarne Riis.
*In 2003, a stage win in the Tour of Burgos convinced Dutch outfit Rabobank to hire his services and the Dane, dubbed "chicken" by his team mates for his long, skinny legs and sharp features, rewarded his employer with a stage win in the Spanish Vuelta.
*His climbing abilities were evident when he won a stage and the mountains classification in the 2004 Dauphine Libere before finishing 14th in the Tour de France.
*Took the ninth stage of the 2005 Tour between Gerardmer and Mulhouse and became the first Dane to win the race's mountains classification, shrugging off an embarrassing performance in the time trial on the penultimate stage.
*Won the 16th stage of the 2006 Tour from Bourg d'Oisans to La Toussuire after an impressive solo effort to grab his second polka-dot jersey in succession.
*Won the eighth stage of the 2007 Tour last Sunday. With the victory he took the yellow jersey and the lead in the climbers' standings. Won again on Wednesday but was sacked by Rabobank for lying about whereabouts in pre-Tour test period. Previously dropped from Danish national team over same issue.
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