Coming Clean: Ex-Rabo Rider Breaks Peloton Omerta, Admits He Knew Of Rasmussen's Wherabouts Ahead of 08 Tour

Rasmussen's ex-teammates aren't surprised that he wasn't in Mexico in June of 08

Max Van Heeswijck, who rode for team Rabobank in 2007, stated on a Netherlands TV show that he and other Rabo riders knew Rasmussen was not in Mexico in June of 2007. According to cyclingnews.com, he told UCI officials, "It was no news to us that Rasmussen was not in Mexico," said Van Heeswijk. "Around the sixth of July I heard that when I was in a training camp with a large group of non-Tour riders."

Van Heeswijck (shown here in the Discovery 2006 team kit) claims he and other 2007 Rabo riders knew that Rasmuss en wasn't in Mexico in June 2007, as he told UCI officials

Breaking the peloton Omerta, Van Heeswijck came clean regarding his knowledge of Rasmussen's whereabouts ahead of last year's Tour. This revelation comes as a surprise, as Europoean pros typically refuse to share details regarding teammates or fellow riders. Whether Van Heeswijck will be shunned going forward remains to be seen.

Jaksche hasn't had many calls for his services since speaking out against others in the peloton about doping

Rasmussen was present recently for a TV interview along side David Cassani, the former pro and curent TV commentator who exposed Rasmussen's wherabouts ahead of last year's Tour. Rasmussen allowed that he did not have a problem with what Cassani revealed. Rasmussen told Cassani on the program, "I know who sent me home. You told your story in good faith."

Cassani was exhonerated by Rasmussen, according to cyclingnews.com.

Van Heeswijck's statements may suggest that active pro cyclists may be more likely to reveal the "secrets" of the European Peloton. Max Van Heeswick's actions may pave the way for other prominant pros to step forward with pertinant information in the fight against doping, leading to a cleaner peloton overall.

If these ex-riders could (or would) talk: Heras and others (Floyd Landis, Jose Luis Rubiera, Victor Hugo Pena, Viatcheslav Ekimov, Pavel Padronos an Benoit Joachim may have secrets about Armstrong and his Tour de France runs that the public may not have heard yet