In a spectacular decision, Tour director Jean-Marie Leblanc announced that controversial French rider Richard Virenque, charged in the Festina doping case, was "not welcome on the Tour".
Virenque, who has always denied the charges - unlike all his former teammates with Festina - left the race in tears last year when his team were kicked out on doping suspicions.
A three times king of the mountains in the Tour, he joined Italian team Polti at the start of this season.
"The rider Richard Virenque is not welcome on the Tour. His participation is not compatible with the image and the reputation of the Tour," Leblanc said.
Virenque's exclusion was the most notable decision made by Tour organisers and could lead to the withdrawal of the whole Italian team, whose leaders said they might pull out should the Frenchman be ruled out.
Organisers also decided against inviting Dutch team TVM, who had left the race last year in Switzerland shortly after their hotel was raided by French police in another doping probe.
Reuters
