Defending Giro d'Italia champion, Gilberto Simoni will be out of competition for at least two weeks, because of injuries sustained in a crash at Setmana Catalana, his team reported Thursday. Results of a medical exam earlier in the week suggest that the Saeco rider apparently suffered a small fracture in his leg as a result of the crash that forced his withdrawal from the early season stage race.

“After carefully studying the scan (of the injury) we've discovered a micro fracture of the inside of the end of the thigh bone of the right knee," according to Simoni’s doctor Flavio Terragnoli.

Yesterday evening Simoni had further liquid removed from the knee. The injury will take between 10 and 15 days to recover, however the winner of the 2001 Giro d'Italia is not too worried.

"The results of the exam are not as comforting as we hoped but I 'm still optimistic," Simoni said. "The knee is still swollen but it has gone down compared to yesterday. The beat thing is that I don't feel any pain."Panatani and Armstrong to face off this weekend

American Lance Armstrong could use the presence of former peloton rival Marco Pantani to display his prowess in his second race of the European cycling season at the two-day Criterium International this weekend.

The triple Tour de France winner, who came 44th in last week's opening World Cup event - the Milan-San Remo classic won by Mario Cipollini - faces another strong field of competitors.

Pantani, the Tour de France and Tour of Italy double winner (1998) who recently took a pot-shot at Armstrong, is himself still on the road to full fitness.

But recent remarks made in Spain by the Mercatone Uno team leader who is known as 'Il Pirata' could add extra spice to the weekend's race.

"I don't want to get into an argument, but for me Armstrong is nothing special," said Pantani on February 17.

"He's a great rider, but he's not a great champion. He's clever. I can't wait to ride against him on the Tour again," added Pantani. Twenty-two teams will take part in the race held over three stages in the Ardennes region (north-east) of France. Other notable riders will include Italian young gun Danilo Di Luca, German iron man Jens Voigt and title holder Rik Verbrugghe of Belgium. Kazakhstan's crafty Alexandre Vinokourov, the recent and convincing winner of Paris-Nice, is also scheduled to race and he will be given carte blanche to chase down his second title of the season.

French veteran Laurent Jalabert is ill, leaving compatriots Richard Virenque, Didier Rous, Laurent Brochard, Christophe Moreau, Florent Brard and the revelation of the Paris-Nice, Sandy Casar, to bring a bit of blue sky to the race.

Danilo Di Luca, however, will not be there this weekend. The Saeco-Longoni Sport team leader still has a few muscular problems after his crash during Milan-San Remo and, according to a team spokesman, is now focusing on his preparation for the Ardennes classics in April.Preliminary list of confirmed starters for Criterium International
Lotto: Verbrugghe (B), Aerts (B), Van de Wouwer (B)
Euskaltel: Martinez (Sp), Sanchez (Esp)
Jean Delatour: Brochard (F), Halgand (F), Finot (F).
U.S. Postal: Armstrong (USA), Heras (Sp), Landis (USA), Pena (Col), Rubiera(Esp), Vandevelde (USA)
Domo-Farm Frites: Virenque (F), Bruylandts (B), De Wolf (B), Konecny (Cz), Merckx (B).
Deutsche Telekom: Vinokourov (Kzk), Julich (USA), Kloeden(G).
Saeco: Astarloa (Sp), Celestino (I), Commesso (I),Conte (I).
CSC: Piil (Dan), Blaudzun (Dan), Hamilton (USA), N. Jalabert (Fa), Rittsel(Swi).
ONCE: Olano (Sp), Andrle (Tch), Beloki (Sp), Caruso(Ita), Hruska (Cz).
Cofidis: Moncoutie (F), Cuesta (Sp), Kivilev (Rus)
Alessio: Dufaux (Swi), Caucchioli (I), Ferrigato (I),Shefer (Kzk).
Crédit Agricole: Brard (F), Hushovd (N), Moreau(Fra), Voigt (G).
iBanesto.com: Blanco (Sp), Flecha (Sp), J.I. Gutierrez(Esp).
Kelme: A. Gonzalez (Esp)
Française des Jeux: Casar (F), Casper (F), Cooke (Aus), McGee (Aus), J.-P. Nazon (F).
Mercatone Uno: Pantani (I).
Team Coast: Garmendia (Sp), Aebersold (Swi), Gianetti(Sui).
AG2R: Botcharov (Rus), Agnolutto (F), Chaurreau (Esp)
Phonak: Camenzind (Swi), Salmon (F).
Bonjour: Rous (F), Beneteau (F), Bouyer (F), Chavanel(Fra), Pichon (Fra), Simon (F).
BigMat: C. Capelle (F), Heulot (F), Garcia Casas (Esp).
Saint-Quentin: Barthe (F), Nuttli (Swi), Rinero (F).