Originally Posted by El Diablo Rojo
/\/\/\So you guys think that Simoni is telling the truth and Basso paid him to cover it up? Simoni may well be excluded from the tour and suspended from cycling over this and you think Basso could give him 10-20-30 thousand dollars and he'd go along with it? His reputation is ruined and he is facing sanctions, 30k is chicken feed to a guy who's making a million a year, he's not going to risk everything for some cash.
Past is prologue with this guy, he made it up and complained about getting beat. Remember the time line, first he accused Basso of asking him not to drop him on the descent in exchange for the win and he calls him a doper. Then the next day he claims Basso offered to sell him the stage. He's just a very poor loser, and had a big mouth, not a good combo.
Simoni's activities at the Giro were worse for the sport than doping. He's not just a doper and a liar, he's a poor sport and should be excluded from racing. My guess is no sponsor will pay this jerk in 2007. His career is hopefully over.