From Cyclingnews. Apparently, Monex doesn't give a [censored]
about attempted assault, so maybe they should add a good
doping program as well. Gag sounds pretty much like a kid
making excuses.
After a disciplinary hearing found Team Monex rider Robert
Gaggioli guilty of assault for attacking fellow rider Jonny
Sundt with a 2x4 at the Cheaha Challenge, the outspoken Italian-
American has defended his actions, saying he only wanted to
"scare" Sundt and described his six-month suspension as
"excessive". In addition, Gaggioli has indicated "I'm going
to manage the team, no matter what", despite the ban
encompassing participating as a rider or a manager in any
USA Cycling or UCI events from May 31 to December 31, 2004.
"I don't know if it was for defending myself or what, I
just grabbed a two-by-four," Gaggioli recalled in an
interview with Cyclingnews' Mark Zalewski on the eve of the
USPRO Championships. "Everyone knows about it, I'm not
lying - I admitted it. I grabbed it to scare him. I hit the
bike. I didn't try to hurt him. If I wanted to hurt him I
would hurt in hin the race, you know? That's the easy way.
We were two people involved in the incident, and I'm the
only one to pay for it."
Speaking about the numerous defamatory articles that have
being posted about him in Internet newsgroups, Gaggioli
retorted by saying, "I feel sorry for them because I am
going to be there a longer time than them. I think these
people there don't have any life. That is why they are
posting there."
Nevertheless, Gaggioli is determined to continue managing
the Monex team, who, according to himself, are right
behind him.
"I'm going to manage the team, no matter what. I am
suspended from anything requiring a USCF or UCI license. So
I can't follow the race in the car, or pick numbers up at
the meeting, but I am still managing the team, I am still
the director. Monex is still after me and I'm the only one
who can do the job. They don't really care what's happening,
because they know if it happened, that there is a reason for
it," he said