Professional Cycling For the Fans - Gilberto Simoni

Is he in the right sport or event? Read one of his diaries and he was complaining about Armstrong not letting him win and saying he doesn't care about strategy and such. Just get the feeling he shouldn't be doing the TDF. Isn't he the guy that had high hopes last year then almost quit?

yeah, 2 time Giro winner - probably not in the right sport. I think this "cycling" thing was just a fad for Gilberto.

I doubt a 2 time Giro winner rides as a fad.

He is definetly in the right sport. But he probably isn't in the right event. He can't seem to handle riding against the strongest teams in the world while their riders are at their best form. (not that he is that much weaker, but his mind won't deal with it)

I admit I don't know much about cycling that's why I covered myself with 'event' also. Definitely doesn't seem to have what it takes for the TDF though. I can't imagine Armstrong crying about someone not letting him win a stage.

According to the spanish media, when Simoni was on the breakaway group Armstong said that if he didnt stay back he would make his team chase them down - in other words for that breakaway group to be success Simoni would have to be dropped.

Thats why Simoni was complaing that Lance didnt allow him to win

According to the spanish media, when Simoni was on the breakaway group Armstong said that if he didnt stay back he would make his team chase them down - in other words for that breakaway group to be success Simoni would have to be dropped.

Thats why Simoni was complaing that Lance didnt allow him to win

I believe you're referring to Filippo Simeoni, not Gilberto "Gibo" Simoni.

I was about to post the same thing. Simoni and Simeoni are 2 very different people.

Simoni is a successful rider in his own right (2 Giro wins and a 2nd) even if he's not had much success in the TdF. The only reason we've heard so much about Simeoni is that LA really, really, really doesn't like him.

:beer:

Here's the link to what I read, hope it works.

http://www.bicycling.com/tourdefrance/experts/columns/0,3489,1-9810,00.html

Believe it or not this is a little different version than what was originally posted. Looks like some things were deleted. He was complaining about Armstrong being a cat and the other riders were the mice he was playing with and that he needs to win a stage and it was taken away. Also said he didn't care about strategy or numbers. That's why I made my original post about this not being the event for him.

I'm guessing somebody agreed with me that what he wrote didn't flatter him and his diary was toned down a bit.

He's a great cyclist, but he's also a punk.

I was about to post the same thing. Simoni and Simeoni are 2 very different people.

Simoni is a successful rider in his own right (2 Giro wins and a 2nd)

Really? When did he place second?

Gibo has 2 Giro wins and three third places.

I stand corrected. I bumped him up a podium spot for this year's event. At least I got the wins right.

:beer:

gilberto is the nice guy

filippo is the arsehole who says things under oath that appear cannot be proved...
oh and then complains that the boy in the yellow t-shirt would'nt give his lollypop back

Didn't see the first version so I can't comment. In today's entry he was complimentary of LA and USPS though there's not a lotta love there. In the other entry he was definitely bitter. He really wasn't happy with Bartoli either, was he? I can understand that as he did help pull the LA group up to him. If I were in a breakaway I'd be POed at anyone bringing the Maillot Jaune to me also. Simoni is obviously mad that his breakaway didn't work but it's not just LA taking it, Virenque was hitting the wall too.

2 years ago he dominated the Giiro nearly as well as LA has dominated Le Tour and I don't recall him giving stages away then either.

:beer:

filippo is the arsehole who says things under oath that appear cannot be proved...
oh and then complains that the boy in the yellow t-shirt would'nt give his lollypop back

That's one take. Here's another one:

Filipo is the guy who says things that he believes are true under oath, and dislikes being called a liar by the boy in the yellow t-shirt. IMHO, the guy in the yellow t-shirt proved nothing during stage 18 except that he is a petty and spiteful man who threatens to use his gang (in blue t-shirts) to back up a personal vendetta.

gilberto is the nice guy

filippo is the arsehole who says things under oath that appear cannot be proved...
oh and then complains that the boy in the yellow t-shirt would'nt give his lollypop back

TimB, you are depriving a village of an idiot. :roflmao: (I love that line)

Filipo goes into court and says he did drugs and that Ferrari gave them to him. What part of that cannot be proved? Maybe that Ferrari gave them to him, but why would you think that false? Or are you referring to something else Fillipo said? Please enlighten us. :)

I thought that Simeoni said that Ferrari simply recommended him to use. Or did he testify that Ferrari supplied him?
I really doubt that someone of high status like Ferrari would actually do the perscription writing.

I thought that Simeoni said that Ferrari simply recommended him to use. Or did he testify that Ferrari supplied him?
I really doubt that someone of high status like Ferrari would actually do the perscription writing.

Simeoni testified that Dr. Ferrari prescribed them for him. The perscriptions were filled in Switzerland. Here is the initial report in cyclingnews:

www.cyclingnews.com/news/2002/feb02/feb13news.php

Simeoni testified that Dr. Ferrari prescribed them for him. The perscriptions were filled in Switzerland. Here is the initial report in cyclingnews:

www.cyclingnews.com/news/2002/feb02/feb13news.php

This story covered Feb. '02 testimony. What transpired in subsequent testimony and what did the court hold?

i'm lost :/
Was Simeoni the one that lost it in the last few hundred meters in stage 9 with landaluze or was that Simoni?

And..Simeoni was the one that has issues with LA and vice versa about Dr. Ferrari?

melloboy

i'm lost :/
Was Simeoni the one that lost it in the last few hundred meters in stage 9 with landaluze or was that Simoni?

And..Simeoni was the one that has issues with LA and vice versa about Dr. Ferrari?

melloboy
That was Simeoni.

TimB, you are depriving a village of an idiot. :roflmao: (I love that line)

Filipo goes into court and says he did drugs and that Ferrari gave them to him. What part of that cannot be proved? Maybe that Ferrari gave them to him, but why would you think that false? Or are you referring to something else Fillipo said? Please enlighten us. :)


Filipo's testimony is one word against Dr Ferrari's. As far as I am aware, Dr. Ferrari has not been sentenced and the case is still pending.
In every case where a rider is caught doping, immediately that rider blames the team or the doctor or a fan but it's never the rider. I'm not saying that they're always lying but I think proof has to presented to make this clear.
That excuse is wearing a little thin, so I prefer to allow the evidence to speak for itself and not Simoni's testimony itself.
It's like believing a thief who is now telling the court that it was "someone else who made me do it".

perhaps in court drama, the "he made me do it" arguement gets convictions, in real courts of law the evidence still has has to show this conclusively.

So until the evidence shows Dr Ferrari is the person responsible for doping his riders without their concent I don't feel the need to fall in line with Simoni's accusations.
and I believe that this is Lance's problem with Simoni too. It's as to pass the buck.

Simoni may just be destroying the career of someone completely innocent but maybe I'm just too open minded....


back to my villiage now :rolleyes:

It's Simeoni not Simoni Tim. We've made a complete hash of this thread. At least the only error I've contributed was inflating SIMONI'S palmares.

:beer:

sorry yes Filipo Simeoni Not Gilberto Simoni (who is a pretty good guy although has not had a decent tour yet).

I thought it was "simioni"

In every case where a rider is caught doping, immediately that rider blames the team or the doctor or a fan but it's never the rider.
Has that been the case with Millar? And even if it were the case, if a judge at an inquest, asks the rider where he got his drugs, what is a rider to say? Obviously the rider cannot prescribe the drugs himself. So someone has to act as a facillitator, write prescriptions, make suggestions. If someone is illegally prescribing performance enhancing drugs, and that person needed to be stopped, wouldn't law enforcement officials be obligated to get to the source, press the rider for his sources? (I think VDB blamed his dog? :roflmao: )



I'm not saying that they're always lying but I think proof has to presented to make this clear.
That excuse is wearing a little thin, so I prefer to allow the evidence to speak for itself and not Simoni's testimony itself.
A quick read of the account of the court transcript at the cyclingnews article above shows that the judge was considering the same kinds of evidence that have been considered in the recent cases here in the US; diary entries, perscriptions, etc.... This along with the riders word seems pretty solid. Simeoni was sanctioned with a suspension for his "alleged" honesty. Why would he be honest in the face of certain punishment?



So until the evidence shows Dr Ferrari is the person responsible for doping his riders without their concent I don't feel the need to fall in line with Simoni's accusations. and I believe that this is Lance's problem with Simoni too. It's as to pass the buck.
It would be a bit difficult to dope a rider without his consent, although I guess if the rider was very naive, it might be possible.

Has that been the case with Millar? And even if it were the case, if a judge at an inquest, asks the rider where he got his drugs, what is a rider to say? Obviously the rider cannot prescribe the drugs himself. So someone has to act as a facillitator, write prescriptions, make suggestions. If someone is illegally prescribing performance enhancing drugs, and that person needed to be stopped, wouldn't law enforcement officials be obligated to get to the source, press the rider for his sources? (I think VDB blamed his dog? :roflmao: )

A quick read of the account of the court transcript at the cyclingnews article above shows that the judge was considering the same kinds of evidence that have been considered in the recent cases here in the US; diary entries, perscriptions, etc.... This along with the riders word seems pretty solid. Simeoni was sanctioned with a suspension for his "alleged" honesty. Why would he be honest in the face of certain punishment?

It would be a bit difficult to dope a rider without his consent, although I guess if the rider was very naive, it might be possible.


What precisely did Lance say or write that triggered the defamation suit?
Did Lance allege the testimony was perjured, Simeoni was a liar generally, or that Simeoni was lying about doping?

Was Lance the author of an article or were these statements made in an interview with the press or a press conference?

Don.d,

If Dr Ferrari was doping the riders, then I doubt he would be foolih enough to use prescription drugs.
Also I doubt he would leave any trace of substances and then allow loose cannons like Simeoni to get caught.

No I think Simeoni obtained his own drugs via another source (aka Mr Rumsas) and then pinned the blame on the team doctor.

either wy, all I'm doing is adding to speculation. For now Simeoni testimony stands as only his testimony which has not been verified to fact just yet. It's still one mans word against another.
If Lance has grudge against Simeoni thats for them to solve it.

Facts are Simeoni testified and implicated Dr Ferrrari who denies the charges. Simply because Simeoni says it happened does not mean that it did unless there is sufficient evidence to prove it.

The whole soping in cycling saga is way out of hand anyways and it bordering on a witch hunt.
We'll never know the full truth so I prefer to let the pro's fight it out on the road.