Both parties agreed not to comment about the reasons for the split. The conflict between Thomas Dekker and Rabobank escalated after the Dutch team decided not to select Dekker for last months Tour de France.

Dekker had  a contract with Rabobank until the end of 2009. The 23 year old winner of stage races like Tirreno - Adriatico (2006) and Tour de Romandie (2007) joined Rabobank in 2002 (junior team).

A statement on Dekkers personal website, tdmagazine.nl says the Dutch team and Dekker were not able to overcome their differences and that the Dutch team and Dekker part ways by mutual agreement. Dekker will not look back in anger and says he always enjoyed riding with Rabobank.

In a separate press release Rabobank confirmed that Dekker and Rabobank will part ways by mutual agreement. The Dutch team said that "the exisiting difference of opinion made it impossible to settle the dispute."

Insiders say that Dekker will sign with the US Garmin team, possibly also with immediate effect. However in a press release, Martijn Berkhout, his manager of SEG International said that Dekker and Garmin did not reach an agreement. Dutch media reported that several top teams want to sign Dekker. Dekker said he will explain the situation during the Gran Fondo Thomas Dekker on August 24.

Last month Dutch daily newspaper the Volkskrant reported that Rabobank was informed by the UCI that Dekker had 'unusual' blood parameters before the Tour de Suisse. Rabobank and Dekker both said that the problems between both parties have nothing to do with the unusual blood parameters. Dekker received a letter from the UCI that he is allowed to race (To read the letter, download  the PDF document at the bottom of this page).

Yesterday, Michael Boogerd also left the Dutch team. Insiders say that Boogerd's decision might have something to do with the growing power of Erik Dekker in the Dutch team. Boogerd and Dekker weren't exactly friends during their career. Thomas Dekker (no relative of Erik Dekker) and Michael Boogerd are close friends.