Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf reported that there is a bit of a disturbance in the Rabobank camp as of late.
Sure, there is a recreational drug policy that will get you kicked off the team, but that isn’t what the riders in an uproar. After all, there are already doping rules in place that apply to all professional riders no matter the team. “We have no problems with the strict anti-doping rules,” a Rabobank rider told De Telegraaf.
“It’s mainly the penalties on other matters, which are simply absurd. I do not think that we as mature people should have to deal with such rules. It is not good for the morale of the team,” continued the rider.
What he was referring to as absurd fines are the following:
10,000 euros for not wearing a helmet during training
10,000 euros for a guest / relationship in the hotel without permission
5000 euro for an interview or performance without permission
Based on the new rules in effect, it’s no wonder the rider being interviewed asked to be unnamed. It is unclear if the rules were put in place by team management, or they were handed down from the main sponsor Rabobank.