Clean race

Top six riders in Tour pass blood tests

PAU, France (Reuters) -- The leading six riders of the Tour de France were blood tested in their hotels in Pau on the second rest day of the race Tuesday, organizers said.

American race leader Lance Armstrong, German Jan Ullrich, Kazakh Alexander Vinokourov, Spaniards Haimar Zubeldia and Iban Mayo as well as Italian Ivan Basso were tested between 0700 and 0800 GMT with their teammates.

The tests found that their level of hematocrite -- red blood cells -- was below the 50 percent legal limit and they were all declared fit to continue the Tour.

Filippo Simeoni hits Armstrong with damages claim

LATINA, Italy (Reuters) -- Italian rider Filippo Simeoni has demanded 100,000 euros (US$113,500) in damages from four-times Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong after accusing the American of making defamatory remarks.

Simeoni's lawyers formally made the request for defamation on July 11 in his home town of Latina near Rome and in Paris.

The Italian decided to take legal action after this year's Tour race leader Armstrong called him a "liar" in an interview in Le Monde in April.

Armstrong attacked Simeoni after he gave evidence in the trial of Armstrong's personal coach Dr Michele Ferrari, who is accused of sporting fraud and illegally acting as a pharmacist.

"We've requested the figure of 100,000 euros as a symbolic amount," Simeoni's Italian lawyer Giovanni Fontana told Reuters. "We're not doing this legal action for money but to stop Lance Armstrong telling lies about Filippo Simeoni."

Simeoni said Armstrong will be formally notified of the legal action in the next few days as he continues his bid for a record-equalling fifth Tour victory.

"Armstrong will be given official notification of my legal action before the end of the Tour de France on Sunday and then will have to respond in court," he said.

"He will also have to appoint a lawyer to defend himself in Italy.

"I'm determined to take this all the way. I decided to start legal action against Armstrong because he told lies about me.

"I did my duty as a citizen and told the truth during the Ferrari trial. I was suspended from racing and humiliated in front of everybody and don't deserve to be called a liar by Armstrong."

Simeoni, who is not competing in the Tour de France, has been a professional since 1995 and currently rides for the Italian Domina Vacanze team.

 

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