Simoni retracts bullshit statement regarding Basso

[stop the bleeding]

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."

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."

Gilbert you are done - bye bye big mouth