The Operation Puerto scandal has been rocking professional cycling for more than a month, and today things got worse.

Even though the public has yet to find out the full story, the team managers have recently been given enough factual evidence to suspend certain riders from racing. And so today, the day before the 2006 Tour de France begins, some of the biggest names in professional cycling have been forced out of the Tour.

At the top of the list are Jan Ullrich and Ivan Basso, the two favorites. Also among the suspended and sent home are Francisco Mancebo, Joseba Beloki, and Oscar Sevilla.

So who's left to fight for overall? Floyd Landis, maybe somebody on the Discovery Channel team, perhaps some no-name rider? At this point, it's anyone's guess.