Tour rocked again

The 27-year-old Barloworld rider was immediately withdrawn from the race by his team after he became the second Spaniard in less than a week to fail a drugs test.

"We notified Moises Duenas Nevado that he had tested positive for EPO after the fourth stage this morning,"AFLD president Pierre Bordry said.

Police raided the hotel were Duenas Nevado's team were staying before the start of the stage and left with the rider who was to be questioned, witnesses said.

"This is unbelievable," Barloworld team manager Claudio Corti said. "I don't understand. I didn't even have time to talk to him."

Barloworld's spokesman Claudio Masnata said: "We are shocked. We are waiting for the B-test.

"The raid was shocking, it was not a friendly visit."

Duenas Nevado, who was 19th in the overall standings, faces exclusion from his team and a two-year suspension.

Rocked in recent years by a number of doping scandals, this year's race had been free of controversy until last Friday, when Liquigas rider Manuel Beltran was arrested by French police after it was announced he had tested positive for EPO.

Pat McQuaid, the president of the International Cycling Union said Spain seemed to fail to get the message in the fight against doping.

"My first reaction is a reaction of great anger," McQuaid said.

"He is an idiot," the Irishman said of Duenas Nevado, who was taken by police for questioning before the 11th stage of the Tour.

"It is interesting to see that it is the second Spanish rider (to failed a dope test on the Tour)," McQuaid added.

"Spain are slower to get the message."

The UCI barred Spain's Alejandro Valverde from entering the world championships in Stuttgart last year because of his possible implication in the Operation Puerto blood doping scandal that erupted in Spain in 2006.

The Spanish federation appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, who ruled against the UCI, allowing Caisse d'Epargne rider Valverde to participate in the race.

Spanish authorities also denied the World Anti-Doping Agency and the UCI access to blood bags that were seized during Operation Puerto.

Earlier this month, CAS said they would consider WADA and UCI's appeal of this decision.