American coach Bobby Julich also left the British team last week after coming clean regarding past doping offenses.

CNN: British Armstrong effigy causes outrage

Their greatest success in the race so far has fallen to another American, Bobby Julich, but his form fell away following his 1998 third place.

BBC: Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone

Elsewhere on Thursday, Team Sky -- who led Bradley Wiggins to victory in the 2012 Tour de France -- confirmed coach Bobby Julich had left his position.

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The team is not just about Zabel, Botero and Savoldelli and, in Americans Bobby Julich and Kevin Livingstone, they have two experienced riders capable of lasting the distance.

BBC: Telekom