Rabobank still not free of Veneberg

The court in Arnhem, The Netherland has reversed an earlier decision made in Utrecht to dissolve the employment contract between the Dutch squad Rabobank and Thorwald Veneberg. According to the Arnhem court, only a Belgian court can make this decision as the former rider lives in Belgium and therefore falls under Belgian law.

The Dutch squad will now have to open a new case in the Belgian judicial system if it is to dissolve the contract.

"We can still appeal to the High Court in the Netherlands," said Harold Knebel, the director of the Rabobank cycling team. "But we first have to prepare ourselves. It could turn out to be a long procedure."

In the meantime the team has no option but to continue paying the now inactive rider. Knebel was unable to say whether the company would attempt to come to agreement with Veneberg over a possible payout. "That is now the question, I am not sure when a decision will be made," he said. "First we will consider all our options."

Rabobank decided not to renew Veneberg's contract to the team at the end of last year, citing his lack of performance as the reason. The Centre for Work and Income (CWI) recently announced that the dismissal of Veneberg with Rabobank was insufficiently justified. According to the CWI the Rabobank cycling team did not make it clear to Veneberg that he was not performing satisfactorily.