14 H 43 - Simoni Almost Quit...
Gilberto Simoni was dropped early in today's stage. The Saeco team leader has stated that he hasn't got good form at this year's Tour. And today he almost quit the race. He unclicked from his pedals, dismounted his bike and climbed into the team car at the 22km mark. After a brief discussion with his director, however, he got back out of the car (which was idle) and got back on the bike.
It took the two-time Giro d'Italia champion 27km to rejoin the peloton but, at this point in time, he's still part of the 2004 Tour.

He will go home with his tail between his legs before this Tour is over. The only real question is ... which stage?

I would give him until stage 9 but that is about it. My question is, is he that much of a wuss or is he realy that screwed up? I see racers all the time finishing the Tour in mass pain from crashes and in the top 10.

:beer:

Give the guy a break. I'd be feeling quite sour if I were him right now. Maybe you all forget that he raced for a podium in the Giro this year? Nowone else in the peloton did that...

Give the guy a break. I'd be feeling quite sour if I were him right now. Maybe you all forget that he raced for a podium in the Giro this year? Nowone else in the peloton did that...

Well, he had to race the Giro because he is Italian, and a contender. There is no way he could say no to the Giro - he would be treated like a traitor in his own country if he did so. In the Giro, he was beaten by his own teammate whom he called a b*stard for daring to be better than super-Gibo. He's a punk in my mind until he does something to prove differently.

Actually, he insulted him because Simoni thought that Cunego helped chase him down when he didn't need to, thus ruining Simoni's chances for the stage win on that day.

What I was saying was that he had to push himself for GC in the Giro, and now has to race the TDF as well. If anyone in the Tour deserves to say that their legs are tired (and morale), it's him.

If anyone in the Tour deserves to say that their legs are tired (and morale), it's him.

I agree, but he's still a punk. :)

Extrapolating a whole bunch of negatives from media reports, 2nd hand accounts, and hearsay can lead one's opinions in the wrong direction. Often when reporters don't get what they want, they write what they want; spectators and fans see what they want to see, and opinions get distorted as they are passed from one person to the next.

I wouldn't call Simoni a punk to his face, so why should I call him a punk here? JMHO :)

I wouldn't call Simoni a punk to his face, so why should I call him a punk here? JMHO :)

I would.. that little 5'6" 130 pound man doesn't scare me. :D

I hope Simoni survives and gets himself another Tour stage win.

I would.. that little 5'6" 130 pound man doesn't scare me. :D

That's what Gene Tunney said about Harry Greb. ;)

Yeah, but I weigh 100 pounds more than Simoni and I have my first pro fight in the fall. This isn't a Greb/Tunney situation. ;)

Maybe Pride can set me vs Simoni up.. I'm sure the fans would love to see it.

That's what Gene Tunney said about Harry Greb. ;)

I don't think Gene Tunney ever fought Harry Greb, but he did beat the crap out of Jack Dempsey, the meanest living white guy in the 1930's (next to Popeye).

Tunney fought Greb 5 times.

I don't think Gene Tunney ever fought Harry Greb, but he did beat the crap out of Jack Dempsey, the meanest living white guy in the 1930's (next to Popeye).

Yea, Tunney did rough up Jack Dempsey who was also a natural lightweight BTW, but Tunney was himself roughed up pretty badly by one of the best natural lightweights that ever lived, Harry Greb.

And yes, Devil, it is dissimilar in that Tunney and Greb were the best fighters of their time, but it is similar in that Simoni weighs roughly what Greb weighed and you weigh roughly what Tunney weighed and, at least at this point, neither of you has had a pro fight. :)

I think your agent should contact his agent. We could bill it as " The Hardheaded Trentino takes on The Devil"(not to be confused with the devil that is a fixture at the TDF who, if Simoni gets testy enough, he may end up taking on as well). :)

Fight of the century right there. Devil by KO, RD1 (head kick).

And the Tunney/Greb weight difference was FAR less than the Devil/Simoni weight difference.

http://www.harrygreb.com/tunneygrebtaleofthetape.jpeg

I here Simoni is going to buff up with weights, 'roids and HGH(I hear some members on his team already have the connections ;) ), so he'll probably be at least what Greb weighed and maybe even more, so watch out. He's already got the lower body strength for a good roundhouse kick.

I'm not worried about his legkicks. He'll have to get in real close due to my reach advantage, and if he wants to clinch, I will slam him on his neck.

Remember guys, this fight is taking place at the Saitama Super Arena in Japan.