Italian rider Filippo Simeoni says he is to take four-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong to court for alleged defamation over remarks in the French newspaper Le Monde.

"My dignity has been offended. I want a public apology. He (Armstrong) can't say what he wants and not be punished," Simeoni said on Monday.

In the interview published in April, Armstrong verbally attacked Simeoni after the Italian rider had given evidence in the continuing doping trial of sports doctor Michele Ferrari.

Simeoni, 31, said proceedings had to be instigated before July 14. The Italian, a professional since 1995, won a stage of the Tour of Spain in 2001.

Armstrong is in 10th place after the second stage of the Tour de France which began on Saturday. Simeoni's Domina Vacanze team was not given a wild card invite by Tour organisers. 

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