TDA Bullpen - Our Writers' Blog

Saturday, July 24, 2004

Competitive Spite

Since the issue of Lance Armstrong and steroids has come up in the past, I found the second half of this article about Armstrong's exploits in asserting himself as the Pope of the Tour de France kind of interesting:

Armstrong, his rivals thoroughly beaten, was so relaxed he even had time during the 103.2-mile stage to tend to a little personal animosity with an Italian rider who has taken legal action against him.

Even though Filippo Simeoni represents no threat to Armstrong's imminent Tour victory, the five-time champion appeared determined not to let the Italian get ahead.

Armstrong, in a highly unusually move for a rider who is generally extremely careful, at one point surged off with Simeoni in pursuit of Mercado's escape group. They caught that group, stayed with them for a few minutes, and then suddenly eased up and waited for the trailing pack to catch up.

"It was bizarre, really strange," Mercado said.

It was not immediately clear what prompted Armstrong to act as he did. But an official from Armstrong's team suggested the champion's motives were personal.

Simeoni, an Italian with the Domina Vacanze squad, has testified against controversial sports doctor Michele Ferrari, with whom Armstrong has ties. Ferrari faces accusations of providing performance-enhancing substances to riders.

"It surely had something to do with what has happened," said Johan Bruyneel, sports manager of Armstrong's team. "Nobody was expecting it, and it wasn't planned, either."

Simeoni told an Italian court in 2002 that Ferrari advised him to take performance enhancers.

Armstrong was cryptic is explaining his motives for chasing Simeoni.

"I was protecting the interests of the peloton," he said, referring to the main pack. "Other riders were very, very thankful."

Sebastien Joly, a French rider who was in the escape group, said: "I think it was a reaction of pride on Armstrong's part."

The escape riders knew that their chances of winning the stage were nil while Armstrong was with them. So they asked Simeoni to leave, Joly explained.

"When he let go, Lance had the kindness to do the same thing," he said.

I guess the lesson here is if you tick off Armstrong, you get excommunicated from the lead pack. I guess that's still better than a baseball between the shoulder blades. Ain't spite grand?

posted by Tom Renbarger 1:42 AM