PAU, France, July 26, 2007 (AFP) - International Cycling Union (UCI) chief Pat McQuaid has applauded the Rabobank team`s decision to pull race leader Michael Rasmussen out of the Tour de France on Wednesday.

However McQuaid said he wondered why the Dutch outfit had waited so long before acting on information about the Dane having missed four random doping controls, which they knew about prior to the race.

'I wonder why they did not make the decision in June when they had the information (about the missed tests),' said McQuaid.

THE HAGUE, July 22, 2007 (AFP) - Tour de France leader Michael Rasmussen, whose domination of the yellow jersey has been accompanied by controversy over missed drugs tests, received a vote of confidence from his team sponsor on Sunday.

Dutch bank Rabobank, who bankroll Rasmussen`s team, insisted they were standing by the Danish cyclist.

'Of course, we are totally behind him,' said Rabobank spokesman Raymond Salet. 'There is no reason to doubt him.'