Rasmussen in shock after being pulled from Tour

Rasmussen, who was suspended by his Dutch team Rabobank on Wednesday night for lying in connection with his whereabouts earlier this year and missed doping tests, also claimed he did not know why he had to quit.

 His team announced Thursday that it will continue the Tour de France, with the 17th stage set for later in the day, even though the other riders, according to Rasmussen, were "devastated." 

The Tour de France ends on Sunday in Paris.

 "I am ... aware my career has been ruined," said Rasmussen, who wore the yellow jersey as overall leader for almost a fortnight.

 "I have no idea what to do or where to go. It is an enormous blow for me."

   "I am sick of it, I am sick of it, I am sick of it," the 33-year- old said.

 Rasmussen, 33, also claimed he did not know why he was dropped, saying that team boss "Theo de Rooy could not explain me what moved him to remove me from the Tour."

   Rasmussen was pulled from the Tour and suspended by Rabobank late Wednesday, just hours after he won the 16th stage in the Pyrenees with which he all but secured the overall title.

 Rabobank said that Rasmussen "broke team rules" in connection with missed doping tests.

 "On several occasions, he claimed he was training, and that was a lie," de Rooy said. "Team management was warned several times and had received new information on Wednesday."//dpa