Cipo retires

Ewoud Dronkert said:

Effective immediately.

He should have antedated it.

Bob Schwartz
[email hidden]

Ewoud Dronkert said:

Effective immediately.

Dumbass -

[censored], he retired immediately after his WC win.

thanks,

K. Gringioni.

Quoted message said:

Effective immediately.

I'm looking forward to shopping in the shoe store he has planned.

Wayne Grow said:

Quoted message said:

Effective immediately.

I'm looking forward to shopping in the shoe store he has planned.

I hear Sheryl Crow is gonna put in a topless appearance at the Grande Opening

--
Regards,
Ila Kutcherkokoff
(Lorena's Cousin)

MyFirstname MyLastName said:

Wayne Grow said:

Quoted message said:

Effective immediately.

I'm looking forward to shopping in the shoe store he has planned.

I hear Sheryl Crow is gonna put in a topless appearance at the Grande Opening

oww my eyes..........

Bob Schwartz said:

Ewoud Dronkert said:

Effective immediately.

He should have antedated it.

Bob Schwartz
[email hidden]

POTM

I really started paying attention to racing in early 2002, which saw il re
leone win San Remo. At that point, most of the press was about the fashion
choice of his 'Zebra train.' Then Cipo won some Giro stages, had a big media
snit about being overlooked again for the tour, threaten to quit, and then
win the World Championships in Zolder. Maybe 'cause I started watching and
reading in what had to be his best year, I took to him and his rolling
caravan.

By Giro 2003, it was becoming clear that he wasn't in the WC form even he'd
hoped for, but I've no doubt that he relishes winning stages #41 & 42. That
alone was reason for continuing into 2003, so I don't understand the folks
that say he should've ended 'on top' at Zolder.

Then I watched him race (okay, labor) in Georgia in '04. I had a chance to
get a photo of him and sign my 4 yr old son's shirt. No disrespect to Lance,
but Cipo was THE star at the Tour de Georgia that year. He was out there
gladhanding folks and all smiles after even the grueling stages and made
time for person after person. I already knew that Cipo was a marketer's
dream, but I never expected such a fine embassador for the sport.

All that's is to cast one more lot into the pile of info most folks already
know: the sport will be lessened by Cipollini's absence. I know I was eager
to see him try and snag at least one more Giro stage away from Ale-jet, let
alone what madness would he bring to the prologue this time around.

Ciao, Cipo i gratzi!

-Kris Garau

On Wed, 27 Apr 2005 09:35:07 GMT, "garau" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

All that's is to cast one more lot into the pile of info most folks already
know: the sport will be lessened by Cipollini's absence. I know I was eager
to see him try and snag at least one more Giro stage away from Ale-jet, let
alone what madness would he bring to the prologue this time around.

I think he had illusions of it being a two person contest in the
sprints at the Giro, which probably appealed to the dramatic in him.
The pro tour is brining more talent into the Giro sprints and being
one of several trying to chase Ale-jet is no where as dramatic and he
decided to sign off. Losing several sprints to Ale-jet is one
generation making the final hand-off to the next, especially if he did
win one. Being beat by several other sprinters is just losing.

Curtis L. Russell
Odenton, MD (USA)
Just someone on two wheels...

On Wed, 27 Apr 2005 09:35:07 GMT, "garau" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

I really started paying attention to racing in early 2002, which saw il re
leone win San Remo. At that point, most of the press was about the fashion
choice of his 'Zebra train.' Then Cipo won some Giro stages, had a big media
snit about being overlooked again for the tour, threaten to quit, and then
win the World Championships in Zolder. Maybe 'cause I started watching and
reading in what had to be his best year, I took to him and his rolling
caravan.

By Giro 2003, it was becoming clear that he wasn't in the WC form even he'd
hoped for, but I've no doubt that he relishes winning stages #41 & 42. That
alone was reason for continuing into 2003, so I don't understand the folks
that say he should've ended 'on top' at Zolder.

Then I watched him race (okay, labor) in Georgia in '04. I had a chance to
get a photo of him and sign my 4 yr old son's shirt. No disrespect to Lance,
but Cipo was THE star at the Tour de Georgia that year. He was out there
gladhanding folks and all smiles after even the grueling stages and made
time for person after person. I already knew that Cipo was a marketer's
dream, but I never expected such a fine embassador for the sport.

All that's is to cast one more lot into the pile of info most folks already
know: the sport will be lessened by Cipollini's absence. I know I was eager
to see him try and snag at least one more Giro stage away from Ale-jet, let
alone what madness would he bring to the prologue this time around.

Ciao, Cipo i gratzi!

-Kris Garau

The giro wil really feel cipo's absence this year, like last year with
Pantani. I remember watching the stage on the Mortirolo, and the
pantani fans were out there with banners and posters and flags,
cheering as if he were in the race. It was terribly sad actually, like
he was Banquo's ghost hovering over everything. But I realized that as
far as the fans were concerned, he was not dead.

I think in a lot of ways, Cipo and Pantani really helped the giro
become more popular in recent years, because they were so hugely
popular with the fans, especially since Pantani won the Tour. Fans
seemed to show up just to see them, even when Pantani wasn't doing so
well or Cipo bailed out. I remember Phil and Paul describing how when
Cipo or Pantani got up to sign in, they got the hugest cheers of all.
They did a lot for the giro, in spite of all the other stuff that
happened. But Cipo was a great ambassador, as you said, because his
reputation was pretty clean. I saw the TDG last year and it was
obvious that Cipo was really the center of attention, maybe even more
than Lance, the crowds just loved him.

I am really disappointed that he wont' be in the giro- I was really
looking forward to seeing him do a prologue in another wacky skinsuit!
I guess, all we'll see will be his name painted on the road with big
hearts around it like Pantani last year. "Grazi, Cipo!"

garau said:

By Giro 2003, it was becoming clear that he wasn't in the WC form

even he'd

Quoted message said:

hoped for, but I've no doubt that he relishes winning stages #41 &

42. That

Quoted message said:

alone was reason for continuing into 2003, so I don't understand the

folks

Quoted message said:

that say he should've ended 'on top' at Zolder.

<snip>

Dumbass -

It's not that he should have quit after Zolder, it's that he started
slacking (even more than usual) after Zolder.

When he put the saddle time in, he was inspirational (Ghent-Wevelgem of
that year). When he didn't, he was a male prima donna.

thanks,

K. Gringioni.

"Curtis L. Russell" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Wed, 27 Apr 2005 09:35:07 GMT, "garau" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

All that's is to cast one more lot into the pile of info most folks

already

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

know: the sport will be lessened by Cipollini's absence. I know I was

eager

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

to see him try and snag at least one more Giro stage away from Ale-jet,

let

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

alone what madness would he bring to the prologue this time around.

I think he had illusions of it being a two person contest in the
sprints at the Giro, which probably appealed to the dramatic in him.
The pro tour is brining more talent into the Giro sprints and being
one of several trying to chase Ale-jet is no where as dramatic and he
decided to sign off. Losing several sprints to Ale-jet is one
generation making the final hand-off to the next, especially if he did
win one. Being beat by several other sprinters is just losing.

Nipplehead,
Yeah I'm sure he sat at home and said "oh [censored] Petacchi will be at the Giro,
I better quit now"
I sure it has more to do with him pretty much accomplishing what he has as a
cyclist, getting older and wanting more from his life.
Dave

Dave H said:

"Curtis L. Russell" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Wed, 27 Apr 2005 09:35:07 GMT, "garau" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

All that's is to cast one more lot into the pile of info most

folks

Quoted message said:

already

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

know: the sport will be lessened by Cipollini's absence. I know I

was

Quoted message said:

eager

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

to see him try and snag at least one more Giro stage away from

Ale-jet,

Quoted message said:

let

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

alone what madness would he bring to the prologue this time

around.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I think he had illusions of it being a two person contest in the
sprints at the Giro, which probably appealed to the dramatic in

him.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

The pro tour is brining more talent into the Giro sprints and being
one of several trying to chase Ale-jet is no where as dramatic and

he

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

decided to sign off. Losing several sprints to Ale-jet is one
generation making the final hand-off to the next, especially if he

did

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

win one. Being beat by several other sprinters is just losing.

Nipplehead,
Yeah I'm sure he sat at home and said "oh [censored] Petacchi will be at

the Giro,

Quoted message said:

I better quit now"
I sure it has more to do with him pretty much accomplishing what he

has as a

Quoted message said:

cyclist, getting older and wanting more from his life.
Dave

D'oh... read what he wrote... it's not that Petacchi will be there,
it's that lot's of others will be there, too.

I'm not saying I agree with Curtis's assessment. I actually think you
may be right, he's just ready to stop.

I've got a hunch that there may have been some backroom discussions w/
management about the possibility of non-selection for lack of fitness,
change of team goals, whatever. Perhaps Cipo was going to be left off
the team, and rather than face that sort of humiliation, he retired,
instead. (pure speculation on my part, of course)

Bottom line this one. Cipo was the man. A total gigolo. Leaves the Giro
to judge the Miss Italy pagent. He's the man. There will never be
another, and the sport is saddened at his leaving.

Quoted message said:

I am really disappointed that he wont' be in the giro- I was really
looking forward to seeing him do a prologue in another wacky skinsuit!

I read that he's still doing the prologue, 5 minutes before the first
official starter. Don't know what it's about, only saw this little fact.

--
Firefox Web Browser - Rediscover the web - http://getffox.com/
Thunderbird E-mail and Newsgroups - http://gettbird.com/

Yeah. And instead of doing it before, they did it just after (just after
Cunego). So Cipo got all the attention of the camera while the RAI was
interviewing Cunego (forget about the winner)

"Ewoud Dronkert" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Ryan Cousineau said:

Sounds like a "prologue of honour", with the precedent set by skiier
Hermann Maier's 2003 ride of the TdF prologue.

Yes it is a "prologue of honour" of some sorts, but not like Maier's;
that one was to honour the centenary Tour and Maier was the circus act,
this one is to honour Cipollini, the great ambassador to the sport of
cycling. It has been offered by the Giro to Cipo as an opportunity to
say goodbye to the Italian crowd (and to get some extra headlines
themselves, no doubt).

Ah I see it has been picked up by all the news outlets now.

--
Firefox Web Browser - Rediscover the web - http://getffox.com/
Thunderbird E-mail and Newsgroups - http://gettbird.com/