'My conscience is clear'

Simoni - a former Giro victor - claimed Basso told him a stage victory could be ensured in exchange for money as the duo raced side-by-side just five kilometres from the end of the 211km stage to Aprica.

"It's a lack of respect for me and my team-mates," raged Basso, who went on to win the stage from Simoni by over a minute. "As for what he says about money, I don't have to justify myself. I'll make my comments at the appropriate time to the federal authorities."

The Italian cycling federation has launched an investigation into the claims, with Simoni - due to give his testimony on June 5 - also accusing Basso of offering him money to allow the CSC rider to win the same stage.

But Basso - among the favourites to battle for the Tour de France's yellow jersey - insists he has done nothing wrong.

"I don't want to lower myself to Simoni's level, that would be to play his game. I don't think I have been dishonest during the Giro, rather that I have been generous. My conscience is clear."

And he added: "The only thing which is true is that I asked him if we could ride the descent together. All the rest is simply not true."

Italian Basso shrugged off the furore caused by his compatriot's declarations to seal his maiden Giro win on Sunday, distancing second-placed Jose Enrique Gutierrez by over nine minutes.

The margin of victory - the biggest since 1965 - also raised eyebrows, provoking the ire of Basso.

"I don't like the fact that people have been saying I have superhuman powers, talking of me as an alien, an extra-terrestrial," he said.

"I'm not a phenomenon. In this Giro, I didn't pull off the feat of the century, nor take ten minutes out of my opponents in one stage.

"The gaps were the fruit of consistency. I won the pink jersey on the road, over 21 days, in the seven big stages, on the two time-trials and the five mountain-top finishes."

He added: "Two years ago, I was with [Lance] Armstrong on all the climbs of the Tour. I've suffered a lot to get to where I am, but - in this sport - there's always someone to cast a shadow on what is beautiful. I'm going to have to get used to it."