Mr. Rogers' neighborhood: What comes around -
[Cached Version]
Published on: 11/16/2003
Last Visited: 6/17/2004
In this corner, Jonny Sundt ... and in that corner, Roberto Gaggioli
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All I can say is that when I first heard the buzz that Monex team rider/director Roberto Gaggioli had attacked Jittery Joe's Jonny Sundt with a two-by-four after the Anniston criterium, I didn't follow up on it.
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I've never met Gaggioli, who has more than 200 career victories, including the USPRO championship in 1988.But I'd heard that he runs it pretty aggressively, both in the pack and behind the wheel in the race caravan.
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Since the story has gone otherwise unreported, here's one reporter's attempt to provide the dirty little details, or as many of them as one can cobble together after speaking with Gaggioli, Sundt, various passers-of-the-buck at USA Cycling, Jittery Joe's team director Micah Rice and Gaggioli's attorney Bob Mionske, who is now representing his defense to the federation.
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Both Sundt and Gaggioli agreed that the altercation that finally took place was a week in the making.The conflict between the two began at the Athens Twilight criterium, a week prior to Anniston.Both agree some bumping took place, as it will.Apparently Gaggioli didn't like Sundt's riding, and let him know.
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The tension between the two escalated throughout the following week at the Heritage Series criteriums in South Carolina, and Gaggioli and Sundt finally went to blows following a rainy Anniston crit.
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A one-year suspension has been recommended, as verified by USA Cycling communications director Andy Lee, and Gaggioli is appealing.
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According to Gaggioli, the trouble began in Athens when Sundt was riding dangerously in corners.
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"Jonny was aggressive all night long," Gaggioli said.
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It was Gaggioli who was riding dangerously, Sundt added.
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"All week at Heritage and Twilight, it was just the way [Gaggioli] was riding," Sundt said.
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I don't think I have the reputation of a fighter, and at the same time Roberto does.The guy rides like that, and everyone knows it.He was hooking me, but that's not the point."
Said Gaggioli: "I always try to avoid fighting.
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According to Gaggioli, Sundt reached over and gave the Italian a push in Anniston within the last five wet laps.
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"We were coming down to the last five laps and he pushed me with his hand in a corner," Gaggioli said.
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