No surprise here, but Gilberto Simoni retracted all of the statements he made about Ivan Basso offering him money for the stage win to Aprica. Simoni, who does not react well to other riders beating him sunk to a new low by suggesting Ivan Basso offered a stage win in exchange for cash. Simoni even called Basso an “extra terrestrial” not implying that Basso had a heart that glows and a friend named Eliot, but that he was doping.
“I made some erroneous statements but I didn’t want to damage Basso’s reputation, certain things are part of the race,” said Simoni, alluding to the common practice of Tour leaders to elicit help from a breakaway companion in exchange for allowing the companion to take the stage victory unopposed.
“Simoni has denied everything. There was never any question of an agreement, even less so a sum of money,” said the rider’s lawyer Giuseppe Napoleone. “However, he was interviewed straight after the finish and he was flustered. But there was never any mention of numbers, we now want the affair to be closed, also for the sake of the Saunier-Duval team.”
All this may mean that Simoni will likely be suspended and have to miss the Tour de France. This will spare the press of Simoni’s his usual poor Tour performance excuses and complaints. No class.