Dutch banking giant, Rabobank has announced it will no longer sponsor cycling. It has been a sponsor for 17 years. It doesn’t think the sport can clean itself up. It will honor existing contracts through the end of the year. The brand name of Rabobank will be removed from existing jerseys and in 2013 the team will have blank jerseys.
Rabobank cyclist Carlos Barredo was alleged to have doped this week and was suspended. Leipheimer had admitted to having doped while riding for the team for 3 years. Rasmussen was their biggest embarrassment.
Besides the typical reasons for leaving the sport, they felt that banks are currently having enough of their own problems.
They will still support amateur cycling.
