By Tim Maloney, European Editor
Italian Prosecutor Giuseppe Quattrocchi has decided to not pursue Filippo Simeoni's complaint in 2004 for intimidation and insults allegedly made by Lance Armstrong during Stage 18 of the 2004 Tour de France, from Annemasse to Lons le Saunier. Quattrocchi nixed Simeoni's case as he decided that the events were part of a sporting event and had nothing to do with public life.
Although Simeoni alleged that Armstrong threatened him, the case came down to Armstrong's word against Simeoni's and Prosecutor Quattrocchi has decided that Simeoni's allegations had insufficient credibility to proceed with. In a recent interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport's Pier Bergonzi, Armstrong admitted, "I made a mistake to go after him that day. I thought it was too important but I never said the things he said I did."
However, Mario Cipollini will have to appear in court as Quattrocchi wants to look further into Simeoni's allegations that the Italian sprinter sought to exclude him from certain races in 2004 when both riders were on the Domina Vacanze squad.
