Kroon to leave Rabobank

Rabobank rider Karsten Kroon is to leave the team at the end of this year, according to a report from the Dagblad van het Noorden newspaper. The 29-year-old told team manager Theo de Rooy of his decision on Sunday, and says that he has three offers of berths on other teams.

Kroon turned professional for Rabobank in 1999 and has three significant victories on his palmarès: the GP Gippingen in 2001, a stage of the Tour de France in 2002 and the Rund um den Henninger Turm in 2004. However, he feels Rabobank has not provided him chances to go for his own victories. "I always hoped I would become a good racer," he said. "Rabobank apparently doesn't see that, others are happy to put their trust in me."

Rabobank's tactics in 2005 have centered around supporting Michael Boogerd, Erik Dekker and Oscar Freire and Kroon says he found himself constantly being held back. "I have just become a domestique," he said. "Everything I hear when there is a breakaway is 'do not follow, do not follow.' I have heard those words enough. I think I can do it, Rabobank thinks I can't. As a result we will go our separate ways."