Former US pro Phil Gaimon said Tuesday that he stands by statements made in his book and that he believes Fabian Cancellara engaged in mechanical doping during the Swiss rider`s career. Writing on his website, Gaimon says the comments in his book, Draft Animals: Living the Pro Cycling Dream (Once in a While), only repeated a `well-documented` rumour, one that he says he believes. `I stand by my opinion, but it`s exactly that, and anyone who actually opened the book would know that what I said was far from an `accusation,`` Gaimon wrote on his website. `Put a gun to my head and thatīs what I believe so Iīd be a liar if I left it out, but I claim no revelations or proof, so I don`t see it being `taken off the shelves` except by the folks buying it.`ADVERTISEMENT Cancellara, through his manager, demanded that Gaimon`s publisher retract the book and that Gaimon publicly apologise. Gaimonīs statement on his website did not include an apology, but he did emphasise that the passage concerning Cancellara in the book was only his opinion and not an `accusation.` The passage in Gaimon`s book frames the allegations in a manner similar to internet arguments dating back to the 2010 Tour of Flanders, when suspicions first arose that Cancellara`s acceleration on the Kapelmuur were `unnatural.` `When you watch the footage, his accelerations don`t look natural at all, like he`s having trouble staying on the top of the pedals. That fucker probably did have a motor,` Gaimon wrote in his book. Gaimon`s full statement:
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
|
