Basso wins the Giro

[SnappyPix]

Well done to Ivan on winning the Giro - he has much to celebrate, a new baby boy and the Giro under his belt - fingers crossed for the Tour.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2006/giro06/index.php?id=/photos/2006/giro06/giro0621/fs-016

He even relented on the final stage and agreed to ride with pink helmet, handlebar tape and saddle:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2006/giro06/index.php?id=/photos/2006/giro06/giro0621/fs-001

It's a shame Simoni is souring the win, alleging Basso offered him money to win the previous stage and refused to shake his hand.

I may be biased but I doubt very much there is any truth in the allegations and it's sour grapes from Salvodelli.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2006/may06/may29news

[jobob]

Gah, that Simoni is a bitter little man. He whined when Cunego "stole" the Giro from him a couple of years ago, and he's doing it again now.

He was great in his day but he seems to be past his prime and no amount of crybabying will change that.

Suppose he could show everyone in the Tour, though. righhht


How about that Jens Voigt, though ? He's so cool. :D

[jobob]

Aw, the whole team had pink bar tape today, how cute. :)

http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/photos/races06/giro06/giro06st21-csc.jpg

[DirtDiva]

Oh that my legs looked like any of theirs. :rolleyes:

[jeannierides]

They're a good looking group, for sure! And Basso is very pretty in pink! :p He's a strong rider, and the team is going to be one to watch for sure during the Tour!
Only 33 days to go!:D

[maillotpois]

Remember when Simoni said "I can drop Lance in the Alps!"? I really want to like him and believe that he's misunderstood, but he sure makes it difficult.

[jobob]

The Tour will be so interesting this year !

Altho Basso is a big favorite at the moment, Ullrich, Landis, Valverde, perhaps Cunego, and maybe even Simoni are all viable contenders. Then there is Leipheimer, although he's been a bit under the radar as of late. At least I'm assuming Levi will be the Gerolsteiner leader for the Tour but I could be wrong.

Who am I forgetting, sports fans?

Has Discovery announced who will be their GC man for the Tour? :confused: Nothing was mentioned on the Giro broadcast, apart from Tommy D. being named as the leader for the Vuelta. Could they be waiting to see how Big George fares in the Dauphine ?

[margo49]

Oh I wish I had seen this.
Watched hoursand days of Eurosport and then the last day Something Happened to SO so was at the Drs with All That and din't see any Giro at all...
I agree Maiilotpois and Jobob that Simoni is bitter and twisted ; his accusation "Went in one ear and out the other" (to quote Basso himself)
Basso is brilliant and he has worked hard physically and mentally. He himself said he is very aware of how much is his natural ability and how much is plain hard work.
Nice touch with the handle bar tape

[jobob]

hee hee, I love this quote:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2006/may06/may30news (scroll down to Italian cycling federation to investigate Simoni claim):


Italian cycling figures have generally been unimpressed with Simoni's allegation. Mario Cipollini, the former sprinter who holds the record for the most number of Giro wins (and lest we forget, he of great bod and killer shades), said, "this sort of thing has always stayed within the riders' pack. They should have sorted it out over a bottle of good wine."

[betagirl]

Heck yes, that's my man. :D Can't wait to watch him win Le Tour.

[jobob]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2006/jun06/jun06news

Simoni retracts

Gilberto Simoni has retracted his claim that Giro d'Italia winner Ivan Basso asked him for payment in return for Basso allowing Simoni to win stage 20 of the Giro.

Simoni was questioned for 80 minutes yesterday by Armando Forgione, attorney for the Italian Cycling Federation, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport. "I never tried to offend Basso," said Simoni, "I didn't want to damage him. I said some wrong things but I didn't want to cause him any damage. These things are part of the dynamics of racing."

oh gag me.

Speaking on Simoni's behalf, his lawyer Giuseppe Napoleone said, "Simoni retracted: there was no talk of deals and much less of money. We made clear that Simoni is a racer, not a public relations expert nor a lawyer. It was a matter of a lack of racing sportsmanship. It was all down to interpretation: to go downhill together and then fight for the victory with a sprint was for Simoni something obvious."

really. gag me.

The incident that was open to interpretation occurred at Basso and Simoni descended the Mortirolo in stage 20. After Simoni accused Basso of asking for money to give him the stage win, Basso claimed that he had simply asked Simoni to stay with him on the descent.

"Gilberto has confirmed the non-existence of money deals," said Napoleone. "Besides, when he was interviewed immediately after the stage, he said he was disappointed but didn't mention money.

Ivan Basso is due to give his side of the story to the federation later today.

[bikerchick68]

Maillotpois... that is EXACTLY what I was thinking of... after winning the Giro Simoni was spouting how Lance wasn't a real climber and he was going to crush him in the Tour... if I do recall correctly he ended up being in like 141st place.... Lance, of course, was in yellow.

I've not been impressed with Simoni personally... I like to see the best guy win, but the lack of professionalism (insert whiney SOB) sours me on him...
interesting that he retracted his comment... makes me wonder if Basso's atty made a phone call or two... no one wants to lose a slander claim...

[SnappyPix]

Jobob,

Thanks for posting the update - I haven't been keeping up with cycling news over the past week.
How surprising that Simoni retracted his statement! Although I don't know the guy (obviously!), he will now be forever imprinted in my brain as a whiney-a$$ed, petulant SOB, who threw his toys out of his cot and tried to sully Basso's wonderful victory. (Biased? Me?!).
It's a shame he can't take a leaf out of Jens Voigt's book for etiquette and sportsmanship.