NEW BLOG: The Simoni "walk-out" interview in full

DanielFriebe

As promised in this month's issue of Procycling, we've posted the full transcription of the interview which Gilberto Simoni aborted after just a few minutes at the Diquigiovanni team presentation in January.

Give it a read and tell us what you make of Simoni's antics. Is he the loveable rogue we describe in this month's issue, or just a bitter and twisted old has-been?

http://www.bikeradar.com/blogs/article/ ... -lad-14485

Daniel Friebe
Procycling Features Editor

iainf72

Brilliant. He's clearly a bit of both.

Didn't Savio give him one of those sweets he likes to "even" him out a bit? :P

Bronzie

Gilberto Simoni wrote:

Simoni: And why's that? Who encourages doping? The people above us, that's who. Once upon a time, we got three year contracts. Now it's one. You don't even know what races you're going to do...If you're not in the ProTour, you're living off whatever crumbs you get thrown. To me, not recognizing a rider's career, and only considering him as good as his last race, is incentivizing doping. Anyway, I don't want to talk about doping. I'm done. Ciao.

He's got a point. But it's a bit rich to blame the current doping problems entirely on not being able to get a 3-year contract...............like nobody was doping in early 90's!

He never wants to talk about doping...........unless it involves Basso it seems!

afx237vi

DanielFriebe wrote:

As promised in this month's issue of Procycling, we've posted the full transcription of the interview which Gilberto Simoni aborted after just a few minutes at the Diquigiovanni team presentation in January.

Give it a read and tell us what you make of Simoni's antics. Is he the loveable rogue we describe in this month's issue, or just a bitter and twisted old has-been?

http://www.bikeradar.com/blogs/article/ ... -lad-14485

Daniel Friebe
Procycling Features Editor

Both. Great article though, but what's the Italian for don't-give-a-shitism?

DanielFriebe

Ha, "don't-give-a-shitism" is a pretty close translation of "menefregismo", which is a fairly common term in Italian.


Daniel Friebe
Procycling Features Editor

steephill

DanielFriebe wrote:

As promised in this month's issue of Procycling, we've posted the full transcription of the interview which Gilberto Simoni aborted after just a few minutes at the Diquigiovanni team presentation in January.

Give it a read and tell us what you make of Simoni's antics. Is he the loveable rogue we describe in this month's issue, or just a bitter and twisted old has-been?

http://www.bikeradar.com/blogs/article/ ... -lad-14485

Daniel Friebe
Procycling Features Editor

Best line from Simoni: "And even in some ProTour teams, there are riders who wouldn't even be good cyclo-sportif riders in Italy. I'm serious."

In general, he is fed up with pro cyclng in just about every aspect. Any aging, (relatively?) clean rider should be really pissed at this point in his career. The only reason he probably sticks around is for the love of riding. I think you are making a bigger deal of this interview "walk-out" then should be. If the entrenched cycling media were doing their job, they would have would nipped the doping scandals years ago. Instead the cycling media ignored the rumours and, now, once the big, fat cat is out of the bag, they want to talk doping.

Maybe what Simoni is effectively conveying to the media is: you didn't do your job and now I don't need you.

vanguard

steephill wrote:

I think you are making a bigger deal of this "walk-out" then it should be. If the entrenched cycling media were doing their job, they would have would nipped the doping scandals years ago. Instead the cycling media ignored the rumours and, now, once the big, fat cat is out of the bag, they want to talk doping.

Maybe what Simoni is effectively conveying to the media is: you didn't do your job and now I don't need you.

Yes. Exactly correct. The cycling media has ignored the truth for years. Why should Simoni bother to give you the time of day? You never wanted to hear it before, so if he walks out on your ridiculously belated attempt to discuss the real issue that should have been front and center years ago, then good for him. I say you got what you deserved, and good on Simoni for not being afraid to do it. How many times have you never asked the questions that were obviously begging to be asked? How many times have dopers been celebrated as heroes on the cover of cycling magazines?