Italian federation back Simeoni
7/24/2004
The Italian federation has come out in support of Filippo Simeoni after
yesterday's mid-stage dispute with Lance Armstrong.
Domina Vacanze team manager Vincenzo Santoni and Italian Cycling Federation
(FCI) president Giancarlo Ceruti have both come out in support of Filippo
Simeoni after his dressing-down by Lance Armstrong on stage 18 of the Tour
de France on Friday.
Last night, Santoni condemned Armstrong's conduct but was even more scathing
about Mario Cipollini, who, he said, "had not wanted Simeoni in the Tour
peloton." Cipollini had apparently advised Santoni to leave Simeoni out of
the Domina Vacanze Tour team after discussions with sources closes to
Armstrong at the Tour de Georgia in April.
Simeoni is suing Armstrong for damages of 100,000 euros after the American
accused him of being "an absolute liar" in an interview with French
newspaper Le Monde before the 2003 Tour. In 1999, Simeoni had told a
courtroom in Ferrara, Italy, that Armstrong's performance consultant,
Michele Ferrari, had advised him to take EPO.
"Yesterday Simeoni wanted to pull out of the race. We urged him to carry
on," Santoni revealed last night. "He's a rider who make sacrifices for
others but who Cipollini, who came to the Tour empty and not caring about
the ream, didn't want in the group. I wish that Cipollini would stop riding.
He has made a fools of the team and the sponsor."
Santoni then hit out at T-Mobile rider Daniele Nardello, who, along with
compatriots Giuseppe Guerini, Filippo Pozzato and Andrea Peron, clearly
aligned himself with Armstrong. According to Simeoni, Nardello told him that
he had "deserved" to be first thwarted in his breakaway bid and then berated
by Armstrong. "Nardello said: 'You're a disgrace to cycling. People like you
shouldn't be in the Tour. You spat in the soup you're drinking from.'
"Even worse than Armstrong's behaviour were the insults that Simeoni
suffered from various riders when he dropped back to the peloton," Santoni
fumed. "Among these was Nardello, a rider who will represent Italy at the
Olympics. Simeoni is the only rider who dared to speak about doping in front
of a judge. And this at a time when our country is involved in a terrible
war on doping."
Simeoni's only, meagre consolation, he claimed last night, were the words of
encouragement he received from Salvatore Commesso of Saeco and Quick Step's
Paolo Bettini, plus team-mates Francesco Secchiari, Massimiliano Mori and
Michele Scarponi. A further vote of confidence arrived promptly after
yesterday's stage from the Italian Cycling Federation.
In a statement released last night, the FCI Giancarlo Ceruti spoke of his
regret at Armstrong's "anti-sporting gesture, which came at a time when the
cycling movement was savouring his latest sporting exploit".
"We feel that it is necessary," said Ceruti, "for our federation to comment
on this episode since it's impossible to accept an attitude which is
disrespectful towards a rider like Simeoni, who has fully assumed his
responsibilities, reviewing his own actions and inciting the sport to
continue its efforts in the war on doping. The FCI declares its solidarity
towards Simeoni and his team."
Whether the sport's sovereign power, the UCI, also backs Simeoni against
Armstrong remains to be seen. The Italian was last night left clinging to
the hope that he will be vindicated by a jury in a Latina court later this
autumn, if not by his colleagues in the peloton. Ironically, if he wins his
defamation case against Armstrong, he will donate the majority of the
damages to a charity specialising in. cancer research.
"I hope that justice will be done. If it isn't sporting justice, it will be
divine," the 32-year-old Italian told L'Equipe. "What hurt me most was to
see directeur sportifs smiling at Armstrong from their team cars. I always
tell the truth, I proved that in front of a judge in Italy. I assumed my
responsibility and paid for it, too.
"Tonight, though, I've realised that honesty doesn't count. Nevertheless,
when we reached the finish I noticed that a lot of people were whistling
Armstrong. That must mean something. A true champion wouldn't lower himself
to do something like that. But in life, you become a champion, you're born a
lord."