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Armstrong meets with Italian magistrate

By VeloNews Interactive
Published: Mar. 31, 2005
The incident that has developed a life of its own.
The incident that has developed a life of its own.
Photo: Agence France Presse

Lance Armstrong voluntarily appeared before an Italian magistrate in Tuscanyon Wednesday in an effort to “clear up questions” regarding an unusualexchange between the American and Filippo Simeoni at last year’s Tour deFrance.

The Italian sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport reported Thursdaythat Armstrong requested a meeting with magistrate Giuseppe Quattrocchiin order to clear up threatened charges of “witness intimidation” afterArmstrong chased down a break that included Simeoni for the express purposeof bringing the Domina Vacanze rider back into the peloton. (see "Mercadowins, but Armstrong move takes center stage")

The two have had a long-running dispute over Simeoni’s testimony inthe trial of former Armstrong adviser Michele Ferrari. Simeoni claimedin court that Ferrari had taught him to use EPO and other performance-enhancingdrugs in ways in which their use would not be detected. Armstrong disputedthose claims and characterized Simeoni as an opportunist and a liar. Simeonithen threatened to sue for libel.

Ferrari was convicted of sporting fraud last summer and Armstrong announcedthat while he regretted the outcome of the trial, but formally severedall ties with the Italian doctor.

Since last summer Italian officials have threatened to detain Armstrongwere he to show up in Italy, suggesting that the incident at the Tour amountedto witness intimidation.

On Wednesday, however, Armstrong arrived in Italy and visited Quattrocchion his own volition.

"This meeting with Giuseppe Quattrocchi took place at my request,” Armstrongtold the newspaper. “It was a very civil meeting and he told mehe appreciated my candor. I told him the truth, I explained to him in detailwhat had occurred that day and what I really said (to Simeoni).  Iwas completely honest and open about what happened.”

Following the stage to Lons-le-Saunier, Simeoni alleged that Armstrongwas both insulting and threatening. At the time, Armstrong explained thatthe move was triggered by his desire to “protect the interests of the peloton.The other riders were very grateful," he said.

"I followed Simeoni. He is not a rider the peloton wants to be in thefront group. All he does is attack the peloton, says bad things about theother riders and group in general. When I came back I had a lot of peoplepatting me on the back. Simeoni ... it is a long history and (with) a guylike that, all he wants to do is to destroy cycling ... to destroy thesport that pays him. For me that is not correct. And when back with thegroup I cannot say how many riders said: ‘Hey, chapeau ... thank you verymuch.'

"They understand this is their job, they absolutely love it and arecommitted to it. And they don't want somebody within their sport destroyingit. For me it is no problem to go on the wheel, to follow the wheel. So...."

Quattrocchi is also reportedly looking into charges that Armstrong saught help from Simeoni's former teammate, 2002 world champion Mario Cipollini, in getting Simeoni sacked from the Domina squad. Both men have since left the team, with Simeoni riding for the small Naturino-Sapore di Mare team and Cipollini is now on Liquigas.

Armstrong’s Wednesday visit has stirred speculation in Italy that the Americanmay be seeking to clear up the entire intimidation issue in time for thisyear’s Giro d’Italia.

In the past, Armstrong has indicated that he wanted to ride the Giroat least once before he retires. Gazzetta concluded that the visitmay be an indication that Armstrong hopes to fulfill that desire as earlyas this year.

"If the possibility exists (to ride the Giro), he first has to clearup the issue of these charges so in that sense, the first step has beentaken.” Gazzetta concluded.