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6 June 2006

7 June News ...

Simoni-Basso Peace Talks

The Cold War is thankfully nearing an end. Yesterday in Roma, Gilberto Simoni was heard by FCI attorney Armando Forgione in regards to his claims that Ivan Basso, winner of the 2006 Giro d'Italia, requested money to let Simoni win the final mountain stage, finishing in Aprica. The eight days that have passed since Basso won the overall Giro have helped ease the tension. Yesterday, coming out of the peace talks with Forgione, Simoni said, "I made an incorrect statement, but I did not want to damage Basso."

The two super-powers had a falling out stemming from stage 20 to Aprica. Gilberto Simoni assumed, after doing a lot of work in the two-man break, that Basso would let him win the stage. Matters became even more serious when after the stage, which Basso won, Simoni accused his escape companion of asking for around €10,000 for the stage victory.

It was the news of money trading hands that signaled the attention of the FCI (Federazione Ciclistica Italiana). Armando Forgione, on behalf of the FCI, requested both Simoni and Basso to come to Roma to clarify what happened on that Saturday after the Passo del Mortirolo. Simoni had his time with Forgione yesterday, explaining his case, and tomorrow will be the turn of Ivan Basso.

"We have clarified that there was no agreement of money," Giuseppe Napoleone, Simoni's lawyer, stated. "It was a problem of interpretation of gestures during one of the most difficult moments of the race. When Simoni made his declarations after the stage it came from a misunderstanding and his delusion regarding the attitude of Basso."

Our hope is that Simoni and Basso can find a certain peace and continue to coexist in Italian cycling. Simoni is a great champion that deserves respect, but is forced to make way for a younger power: Ivan Basso. Il Trentino, who always speaks his mind, must have felt it was smarter to let this battle slide, preferring to wage his wars on the road.

Simoni finished: "With my statements I never tried to damage Basso or put into doubt his victory. Like I always said, Basso won the Giro deservedly."

Il Varesino, Ivan Basso, is a super-power on the rise in cycling. Like Lance Armstrong before him, Basso is forced to face battles on and off the road. If il Varesino is to continue to rise in the sport, perhaps winning the 2006 Tour de France, he will have to develop an even harder shell. In the future, the Italian Stallion is bound to face much more serious attacks than the one from Simoni.

"For me this is an event that never existed," said Basso, who will join the peace talks tomorrow in Roma. "I will take no action against Simoni. I don't feel wronged."

Yesterday Basso was out for a training ride near Lago di Maggiore. Thursday the CSC captain will join his teammates in the French Alps to reconnoiter some of the important Tour de France stages. The Danish squadra will cover the climbs of Alpe d'Huez, Morzine, Le Toussuire. After France, the Italian Stallion will have a training block in Toscana and then compete in his only race before the Tour de France, the Eindhoven Team TT.

Read:
Salò: The Cold War Continues, 1 June
Di Rocco with Hard Words for Simoni, 1 June
Basso Faces Spanish and Simoni, 31 May
Simoni Attacks Basso, 28 May
Beautiful Day for Non-Alien Basso, 28 May

Wegmann with Loose Grip on Dauphiné

German Fabian Wegmann (Gerolsteiner) took the win and overall lead in yesterday's stage of the Dauphiné Libéré. The 25 year-old proved to be the fastest of the four-man move that formed late in the day, taking the sprint over French star, Thomas Voeckler (Bouygues Telecom).

Today's parcours, stage 2 from Bourgoin-Jallieu to Saint-Galmier, presents another torturous stage for the peloton. [Stage Profile.] Though not super mountainous, the 203 kilometer stage is one that will demand a lot of attention from the riders. It is likely that attacks to gain the GC lead will come from Bouygues Telecom, for Voeckler, and Discovery Channel. Expect to see the yellow jersey to change hands before going into tomorrow's time trial.

2006 Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré, 4 - 11 June
Main, Overall Map, Photos, Startlist

Leblanc on Astaná-Würth and Comunidad Valenciana

Pre-selected for the 2006 Tour de France, the teams Astaná-Würth and Comunidad Valenciana will have to wait another week to see if they will or will not be able to line up in Strasbourg on 1 July. Both teams are implicated in the "Operación Puerto" doping scandal, and Tour race director, Jean-Marie Leblanc, does not want to have his grand race spoiled.

"There are three weeks to go to the start of the Tour in Strasbourg," said Leblanc from the Dauphiné Libéré. "We will gather all of the information, analyze and then decide. We still don't have all of the elements. It is all still in the hands of the Spanish officials and, I believe, the UCI. But our hands will not tremble when we will have the elements to take the appropriate decisions."

It is likely that Comunidad Valenciana could suffer the axe, since they are not a ProTour team and were only allowed to ride the Tour with a special wild card invitation. Expelling Astaná-Würth, formerly Liberty Seguros-Würth, would be a much more controversial affair. They are a ProTour team and have a certain Alexander Vinokourov in their ranks.

Operación Puerto News:
Gutierrez and Botero stopped by Phonak, 3 June
Kazakhstan to the Rescue, 2 June
Würth Takes Liberty Seguros, 30 May
Fuentes Spends Night in Jail, Others Free, 27 May
Liberty Saga Continues, 26 May
Liberty Revokes Sponsorship, 25 May
Saiz Free After Doping Interrogation, 24 May

Bramati Cuts Ties

Davide Bramati, after 17 seasons and six victories as a professional, has closed out his career. The 37 year-old completed his last day of pro racing with the arrival of the Giro d'Italia in Milano, and it was yesterday in Salsomaggiore that the Italian officially cut the bond to his bike.

During the party held in his honor, Bramati cut his Time carbon bike to pieces using a hacksaw. Former teammates, such as Paolo Bettini, and other party-goers watched with excitement as the newly retired rider made a perfectly good bike unrideable.

Bramati will be back to work on Saturday, this time behind the wheel of the team car as a Direttore Sportivo for Quick-Step in the Tour de Suisse.

5 June News ...