updated 12:44 p.m. ET July 26, 2007

CASTELSARRASIN, France - One French newspaper ran a mock obituary for the scandal-tainted Tour de France. Another said the race had become a joke and should be canceled.

France reeled Thursday from the news that race leader Michael Rasmussen had been ousted by his team for lying about his whereabouts during pre-race training, the third blow this week to the venerable 104-year-old Tour. In recent days, two riders - including star Alexandre Vinokourov - were thrown out because of positive drug tests.

France Soir newspaper ran a mock death notice for the Tour de France on its cover. It said the Tour died Thursday "at age 104, after a long illness.''

Liberation newspaper's editorial read: "The Tour must be stopped.''

"This procession of cyclists has been transformed into a caravan of ridicule,'' Liberation wrote. "If the organizers really want to save cycling, they should stop the competition and declare a pause of a few years, enough time to treat these athletes-turned-druggies.''

L'Equipe sports daily, by contrast, was more positive, saying the blow was an opportunity for organizers to clean up the Tour de France - "but the Tour must seize it quickly.''

And fans were still turning out at the start and along the roads for Thursday's 17th stage from Pau to Castelsarrasin.

Tour de France July 5-27 Results, standings   |   Stage descriptions Both American teams vow to keep it clean Dopers on Wheels: The Tour's sorry history Interactive: Americans who have won Tour Interactive: Greatest cyclists in Tour history Interactive: Memorable moments in Tour history Tour de France champions throughout history

"It's a beautiful race and it would be too bad if it disappears,'' said dental technician Ariel Couderc, 62, from Pau. "This was a case of no pain, no gain, and I hope the expulsion will help purify the sport.''

"But yeah, we have our doubts about the person who is first, and whether he is really the best or not,'' he added.

Harold Hawson, a 57-year-old fire service manager from Melbourne, Australia, said he had hoped the race would have been clean from the start - and mocked riders who try to get away with cheating.

"The text message from my wife this morning was, 'How's the Tour de Drugs'?'' Hawson said with a laugh. He has been following the event with his daughter since it began in London on July 7. "It's sad. But the main thing, I think, is how stupid are they? They know they'll get tested.''

Rasmussen was sent home Wednesday by his team, Rabobank, which also suspended him. The expulsion, ordered by the Dutch team's sponsor, was linked to "incorrect'' information that Rasmussen gave to the team's sports director about his whereabouts last month.

The Danish cyclist missed random drug tests on May 8 and June 28, saying he was in Mexico. But a former rider, Davide Cassani, told Denmark's Danmarks Radio on Wednesday that he had seen Rasmussen in Italy in mid-June.

On Tuesday, Vinokourov and his team withdrew when the Kazakh cyclist tested positive for a banned blood transfusion. On Wednesday, the Cofidis squad confirmed its Italian rider Cristian Moreni failed a doping test, prompting the withdrawal of the entire squad.

With France reeling from the multiple scandals, even the French prime minister weighed in.

"Obviously this gives a disastrous image of the Tour de France, but at the same time, if we encourage the organizers, we can clean up French sports and in particular cycling,'' Francois Fillon told RTL radio.

Slide show   The Week in Sports Pictures Manny messes up, the Tour takes off to Spain, Nomar returns and more. more photos

Christian Prudhomme, the Tour's director, told Le Parisien newspaper: "You can't mock the Tour de France with impunity.''

Jean-Francois Lamour, vice president of the World Anti-Doping Agency, suggested on Wednesday that the sport should be withdrawn from the Olympics. German public broadcasters have stopped airing the race, and one of Switzerland's biggest newspapers stopped writing about it. The daily Tages Anzeiger said on its Web site on Wednesday it will limit its coverage to results and doping stories.

Don't miss this on MSNBC.com Pass it on: Sons of infertile men may be next The eight biggest Olympic marketing debacles Reality show judges range from wise to wacko Cosmic Log: Is this your jetpack? Forget your inhibitions: World's sexiest islands

MORE FROM TOUR DE FRANCE

Tour de France Section Front

Lance still in 3rd as Tour’s 13th stage begins Armstrong's teammate Leipheimer breaks wrist French Sports minister criticizes Astana behavior   Slideshow from the 2009 Tour de France   Armstrong still in 3rd as Tour's 13th stage begins Analysis: Contador will fade in Alps — Armstrong won't Video: Carmichael predicts Lance will attack in Alps Vote: Do you want Armstrong to win 8th Tour? Bicycling.com: Live blog for Tour de France Interactive: Course map for 96th Tour de France Tour de France Section Front   Add Tour de France headlines to your news reader: