Riis: I had no idea

Giro d'Italia winner Ivan Basso of Italy was withdrawn from the Tour de France because of his involvement in a doping investigation in Spain.

"It's my responsibility to suspend Basso", said Riis, himself a surprising Tour de France winner in 1996 .

"I need to think of the team - that's the most important thing. I have confidence in Ivan. But it is up to him and his lawyers to prove these allegations false".

"It is difficult for us to believe what is happening," Riis told a press conference.

"I never had any kind of indication (Basso was involved)."

The Dane said he made his decision after a meeting with other team managers this morning. The 21 team bosses had decided to ban any rider named in the investigation into the doping scandal that erupted in Spain last month.

"What we saw is that Ivan is part of the case," said Riis.

"We did what we had to do in a situation like that. It's not about pressure, it's about being responsible.

"I am the one who makes the decisions especially in this kind of situations. So I made this decision on my own."

Asked how Basso reacted when informed, Riis said: "He accepted my decision. He was very sad. He wanted to do well on the Tour.

"It's a huge blow for everybody."

CSC are now in a very difficult position if they are to shine because the whole team had been built around Basso.

Riis decided earlier this month to omit Paris-Roubaix winner Fabian Cancellara from his Tour squad.

"The choice was to focus on the mountains and I had to sacrifice Fabian Cancellara for a guy who can climb," he said earlier this month.

Riis believes CSC can still do well in this year's Tour.

"I believe this team has a future. It is very important for me to make my team believe that we have to go on working," he said.