Recently published autobiography of Michael Barry, Shadows on the Road, triggered a lot of bad publicity in the passing week, as the former Discovery Channel and Team Sky rider reveals numerous controversies in regards to his time spent in the professional peloton.

Following a hotly discussed case of Tramadol usage at Team Sky, denied by the British team spokesman in the official statement, Leif Hoste dismissed Barry’s accusations of having sold the 2006 Ronde van Vlaandered to Tom Boonen, brought up in the same book.

Hoste was Barry’s team-mate at the Discovery Channel in 2005 and 2006 season, and 38-year old Canadian claims that as the winning move had been made at the 2006 Ronde van Vlaanderen edition by two Belgians, the financial agreement was made between the riders and Discovery Channel sports director, ensuring that Boonen would take the title as they continue to cooperate, while Hoste’s captain, George Hincapie, would stay out of contention.

In fact, Boonen won the race ahead of the former Discovery Channel rider, currently serving a two-year ban for doping handed by the Belgian cycling federation, while Hincapie won the sprint for the third place over one minute behind the duo.

“Immediately they [Hoste and Boonen] cooperated, forging a gap ahead of George and the others. As I watch the scenario unfold, the riders spoke for a few moments together and then with our directeur, who followed in the team car. It was apparent that a deal had been made, with George left out, his legs strong enough to win but his hands tied by shady racing tactics and backroom deals,” Barry wrote. “Money had determined the outcome, as it does in far too many races, merely adding to the corruption of the sport.”

The passage was published in Belgium’s Het Nieuwsblad newspaper on Wednesday morning and triggered an immediate reaction from Hoste, published in Het Laatste Niuews.

“I think that it’s not unusual to talk and negotiate in that type of situation,” Hoste said.

“At that moment, I was in front and my teammates were behind. With the team, we concluded that I wouldn’t collaborate if George was chasing us alone. That wasn’t the case, so I continued to ride."

“Second place was the best result that we could have. If I had refused to pull, we would have been caught and George would have maybe finished sixth or seventh. There was talk, but not about money."