These Codenames are definitely all real, yes?
The rumour is, that Amigo de Birillo = Giovanni Lombardi, who is Basso's closest friend in the Peloton. But that alone obviously isn't a proof, which could have been Lombardi's luck. Another possibility is Mazzoleni, who I think is related to Basso (or am I mistaking some riders?).
Valv (piti) has to be Valverde. I mean, honestly, that's a pretty obvious one. And it does leave a sour taste in my mouth, that Ullrich and Basso were suspended from the Tour and he wasn't.
Cowboy: Given this Codename, I suppose it's an American. I suppose I am not the only one, who was thinking about Armstrong almost at once, but who knows. @ Americans here: Do you know any of your riders, who has this nickname?
Panticossa: There's also a pretty obvious possibility. But I'm not sure when exactly Pantani retired. Did he even still need something in 2003?
Quoted post said:Obelisk
So much about the story, that he fell into Miraculix' Potion, when he was a baby. 🙁 😉
Quoted post said:Nibelungo
This could be a German rider, I suppose. But just like with Cowboy, it's probably very hard to find out which one. The Nibelungen story mostly plays in Germany and Hungary, so if it isn't a German rider, it could be Bodrogy. But most characters are German in the Nibelungen saga.
César = Sandy Casar? Or is this too obvious?
LAS = I looked at Wikipedia if there's a cyclist with those initials, but didn't found one. It does made me think of Landis, but that's pure speculation, like all of my post.
And of course neither of them have to be cyclists.