Cippolini the gentlman

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by John Forrest To
I am very happy
for Bettini, as I have not forgotten what he did for me in the World Championships in Zolder. "

Agreed. There are few things that an athlete can say in defeat that make them look really good. Excuses certainly don't cut it.

This is a great response.

"John Forrest Tomlinson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

From cyclingnews.comnewsOpen ↗

"I must congratulate the team for the optimal work they carried out in the race: Bennati and
Ongarato, for example, made a big effort to bring back the break after the Cipressa. But Quick
Step was super today. I can not be disappointed. I prepared perfectly for this Milan-Sanremo, but
I had too many riders to control.

That's the statement right there: "I had too many riders to control"

At world's last year, the Spanish, Germans and Australians all had the idea they had a sprinter who
could win and played right into the Italians hands by helping keep the race together, thereby
allowing the Italians a full complement of leadout riders at the end. It seems as if at least some
have got the right idea now: that Cipo can't be readily beaten with a good leadout. Friere is going
away in breakaways.

There's also the factor that Domina Vacanze-Elitron team doesn't quite have the riders to control
a WC race.

Cipo still has the speed at 37 years old. Just think, if he was a US citizen, he could have won
those masters stars'n'stripes jerseys for the last 7 years, Museeuw even longer.

Zabel seems like he's lost his top end. If he can't at least win stages in the minor stage races,
the title of UCI #1 points holder will be going to someone else.

And McEwen in 30th place? So far doesn't seem to be the rider he was last year.

Finally, how did Di Luca get dropped on the descent? (I don't get OLN) Not that he could have done
anything about Bettini.

Mc Ewen burned himself in a desperate solo counter at the end. McEwen and Cipo were both in the
first 15-20 on top of the Poggio which shows how strong they were. The Cipo train only works on the
flat, with some more allround folks next to him, they might have been able to organise.

Di Luca got completely cooked up the Poggio, he was so exhausted he didnt have the sharpness anymore
to keep touch in the razor descent. Kurgan , I like your Furlan etc analysis, the days one could
attack at the foot of the Poggio and keep a full bunch off seem over. BTW before halfway the climb
Di Luca had to brake in a turn, the same where that happens almost every year. But some people here
never believe that.

Bettini was letting go on the Poggio already, when Paolini came to fire him up "everybody's cooked,
Cipo's mates are fading, let's go". He brought Bettini to the front and just carried on, amazing.

And after the race he punched FDJ rider Bernhard Eisel in the face, apparently mistaking him for
Baden Cooke. Cipollini was upset with Cooke for not letting him take Zabel's wheel in preparation
for the final sprint.

-ilan

"John Forrest Tomlinson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

From cyclingnews.comnewsOpen ↗

"I must congratulate the team for the optimal work they carried out in the race: Bennati and
Ongarato, for example, made a big effort to bring back the break after the Cipressa. But Quick
Step was super today. I can not be disappointed. I prepared perfectly for this Milan-Sanremo, but
I had too many riders to control. In the sprint I demonstrated I was the strongest. It's an
important Sanremo for me, I have shown that at 36 years old, I can stay with the strongest. I am
very happy for Bettini, as I have not forgotten what he did for me in the World Championships in
Zolder. "

Part of the reason solos tend not to work as well is probably partly due to moving the finish an
extra kilo or two further down the Via Roma. The finish used to be right near the bottom of the
Poggio, so all you needed was 10 seconds or so and a good descent.

In '92 Kelly simply rode away from the peleton on the descent to catch Argentin, and then beat him
in a two-up sprint. The finish was so close to the Poggio that nobody else had a chance to catch
up. I used to have the video and it was one of the most impressive displays of descending I've
ever seen.

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

Quoted message said:

Mc Ewen burned himself in a desperate solo counter at the end. McEwen and Cipo were both in the
first 15-20 on top of the Poggio which shows how strong they were. The Cipo train only works on
the flat, with some more allround folks next to him, they might have been able to organise.

Di Luca got completely cooked up the Poggio, he was so exhausted he didnt have the sharpness
anymore to keep touch in the razor descent. Kurgan , I like your Furlan etc analysis, the days one
could attack at the foot of the Poggio and keep a full bunch off seem over. BTW before halfway the
climb Di Luca had to brake in a turn, the same where that happens almost every year. But some
people here never believe that.

Bettini was letting go on the Poggio already, when Paolini came to fire him up "everybody's
cooked, Cipo's mates are fading, let's go". He brought Bettini to the front and just carried on,
amazing.

Quoted message said:

Cippolini the gentleman

I've read that he should have punched Baden Cooke because Cooke didn't want to give up his position
in Zabel rear wheel for Cipo.

Quoted message said:

And McEwen in 30th place? So far doesn't seem to be the rider he was last year.

He made a big mistake in leading the chase in the descent of the poggio. It wasn't his job to do
that work. He said he was very nervous because the leaders were getting away. The team directors
said his place should have been in Cipo's wheel, not in front of the group.

Quoted message said:

Finally, how did Di Luca get dropped on the descent? (I don't get OLN) Not that he could have done
anything about Bettini.

Because Di Luca isn't that great young rider like everybody sais. He doesn't have the engine to win
major clssics like bettini does. I know he won the tour of lombardy but i still need to see the
comfirmation. He has problems in races of 250 km or more. You could see that in the HEW in Hamburg
last year where he had problems just to follow the rythm of the leading group of Museeuw. He also
isn't the rider to win the Giro or Tour. I'm affraid that despite of his talent ( he surely has
talent) his doesn't fit in the category of classic riders but neither in the category of
tour-riders.

Kenny said:

Because Di Luca isn't that great young rider like everybody sais. He doesn't have the engine to
win major clssics like bettini does. I know he won the tour of lombardy but i still need to see
the comfirmation. He has problems in races of 250 km or more.

well I saw him attack after 280 kms last Saturday. The attack was ill-timed and over-stepping
himself, but 90% of the world class peloton behind him there can't even think of ever getting away
there. Do they all suffer from a small engine ?

His failed attack does not degrade him. It just suits the good Sanremo tradition that patience
earns. You can't do it solo from the foot with a full and 'fresh' peloton behind you. I remember
Bartoli in one of his best years, taking off halfway (after Van Petegem) and not getting very far.

As to confirmation.... what age is he, 26? can you instantly mention any other rider of that age or
younger who has also won one of the classic monuments ? True one might have expected him to win more
already, but the rise of peak age for the classics is a phenomenon which doesn't pass by on him.

groeten Bart

"Kurgan Gringioni" <[email hidden]> wrote in message >

Quoted message said:

Cipo still has the speed at 37 years old. Just think, if he was a US citizen, he could have won
those masters stars'n'stripes jerseys for the last 7 years, Museeuw even longer.

Saturday was 'only' his 36th birthday, so that would be 6 jerseys.

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

Quoted message said:

Kenny said:

Because Di Luca isn't that great young rider like everybody sais. He doesn't have the engine to
win major clssics like bettini does. I know he won the tour of lombardy but i still need to see
the comfirmation. He has problems in races of 250 km or more.

well I saw him attack after 280 kms last Saturday. The attack was ill-timed and over-stepping
himself, but 90% of the world class peloton behind him there can't even think of ever getting away
there. Do they all suffer from a small engine ?

His failed attack does not degrade him. It just suits the good Sanremo tradition that patience
earns. You can't do it solo from the foot with a full and 'fresh' peloton behind you. I remember
Bartoli in one of his best years, taking off halfway (after Van Petegem) and not getting very far.

As to confirmation.... what age is he, 26? can you instantly mention any other rider of that age
or younger who has also won one of the classic monuments ? True one might have expected him to
win more already, but the rise of peak age for the classics is a phenomenon which doesn't pass
by on him.

groeten Bart

I agree, DiLuca is one to watch for the future. I was impressed last year by his strength in the
hilly stages of the Vuelta and by how far he had come since he was picked as the "next great hope of
Italian cycling." In a year or two, he will know better; it would have been interesting to see him
go wait and go with Bettini.

By most accounts, Di Luca works hard and his head on straight. But then, I think Rebellin too, so...

TC

"Ilan Vardi" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

And after the race he punched FDJ rider Bernhard Eisel in the face, apparently mistaking him for
Baden Cooke. Cipollini was upset with Cooke for not letting him take Zabel's wheel in preparation
for the final

sprint.

Ahhhh Cipollini.

the gentlman.

Don't get me wrong, Bart. I do think he's a great rider and a spectacular one. It's true that most
of the riders saturday didn't think of attacking on the poggio nevertheless he did it. I like
attacking riders. But I still have the feeling that he's capable to do much more than what we've
seen from him till now. He's a big talent but now on the age of 27 i don't see the results that a
man of his calibre should have. Lombardy, stages in Vuelta, Giro and Tirreno but that's about it.
It's true that most of the riders don't even win that but he's not a regular rider. I hope he
becomes more constant in his results. Don't you agree a man with his talent should belong in the UCI
top 10? But since that isn't the reality he still has a way to go to become a big one like every
cyclingfan expected him to become.

Ilan Vardi said:

And after the race he punched FDJ rider Bernhard Eisel in the face, apparently mistaking him for
Baden Cooke. Cipollini was upset with =

Cooke=20

Quoted message said:

for not letting him take Zabel's wheel in preparation for the final =

sprint.

=46rom www.baden-cooke.com
2003-03-22 La guerre avec Cipo Baden a termin=E9 14=E8 de son premier Milan-San Remo. Ce qui n'est
pas mal, d'autant que son =E9quipe Fdjeux.com r=E9alise un tir group=E9 avec Bernhard Eisel 12=E8 et
Matt Wilson 16=E8. Mais il esp=E9rait mieux. = "J'ai mont=E9 la Cipressa les doigts dans le nez,
raconte-t-il. A ce moment de la course, j'=E9tais convaincu que j'allais gagner. Mais =E7a m'a un
peu lach=E9 dans les 20 derniers kilom=E8tres. J'ai fini avec des crampes." Toute la journ=E9e,
Baden a =E9t=E9 victime de harc=E8lement de la part = de Mario Cipollini et ses co=E9quipiers meme
lorsqu'il ne se passait rien dans le peloton. Mais dans le dernier kilom=E8tre, Baden n'a pas
laiss=E9 sa position au champion du monde qui a ensuite agress=E9 un coureur de la Fdjeux.com
aussitot apr=E8s l'arriv=E9e. Croyant s'en prendre au sprinter australien, le Roi Lion l'a confondu
avec Bernhard Eisel, pris par le coup et frapp=E9 =E0 la tete! Droles de m=E9thodes d'un = suppos=E9
porte-drapeau du cyclisme...

Google says: 2003-03-22 The war with Cipo Baden finished 14=E8 of its first Milan-San Remo. What is
not badly, the more so as its Fdjeux.com team carries out a shooting grouped with Bernhard Eisel
12=E8 and Matt Wilson 16=E8. But it hoped better. "I assembled Cipressa the fingers in the nose,
tells it. At this time of the race, I was convinced that I was going to gain. But that a little
released me in the last 20 kilometers. I finished with cramps." All the day, Baden was victim of
harassing on behalf of Mario Cipollini and its fellow-members same when it did not occur anything in
the group. But in the last kilometer, Baden did not leave its position to the champion of the world
which then attacked a runner of Fdjeux.com at once after the arrival. Believing to be caught some to
the Australian sprinter, King Lion confused with Bernhard Eisel, taken by the blow and struck with
the tete! Droles of methods of one supposed carry-flag of cycling...

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

Quoted message said:

Mc Ewen burned himself in a desperate solo counter at the end. McEwen and Cipo were both in the
first 15-20 on top of the Poggio which shows how strong they were. The Cipo train only works on
the flat, with some more allround folks next to him, they might have been able to organise.

Di Luca got completely cooked up the Poggio, he was so exhausted he didnt have the sharpness
anymore to keep touch in the razor descent. Kurgan , I like your Furlan etc analysis, the days one
could attack at the foot of the Poggio and keep a full bunch off seem over. BTW before halfway the
climb Di Luca had to brake in a turn, the same where that happens almost every year. But some
people here never believe that.

Because they never have to brake in a turn going uphill. The wannabee pro syndrome. People win $20
primes and some get the illusion that they are nearing the level of the professionals, not realizing
that with each successive level the jump to the next one gets bigger.

Quoted message said:

Bettini was letting go on the Poggio already, when Paolini came to fire him up "everybody's
cooked, Cipo's mates are fading, let's go". He brought Bettini to the front and just carried on,
amazing.

Excuse my ignorance, but what is his history? I'd never heard his name till last weekend. He towed
Bettini to the top of the Poggio?

Austria, Australia... a predictable Cipo confusion

"Ewoud Dronkert" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]... On 24 Mar 2003 02:03:31 -0800, Ilan

Vardi said:

And after the race he punched FDJ rider Bernhard Eisel in the face, apparently mistaking him for
Baden Cooke.

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

BTW before halfway the climb Di Luca had to brake in a turn, the same where that happens almost
every year. But some people here never believe that.

it's obvious the uphill sprint over the Poggio requires braking in the hairpins. Nobody who saw De
Luca practically crashing into a fence portal halfway up would question that. I think the
incredulity you refer to concerned Pantani's claims that he was braking at certain points of the
Alpe d'Huez ascent.

greets Alexander

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

Quoted message said:

Don't get me wrong, Bart. I do think he's a great rider and a spectacular one. It's true that most
of the riders saturday didn't think of attacking on the poggio nevertheless he did it. I like
attacking riders. But I still have the feeling that he's capable to do much more than what we've
seen from him till now. He's a big talent but now on the age of 27 i don't see the results that a
man of his calibre should have. Lombardy, stages in Vuelta, Giro and Tirreno but that's about it.
It's true that most of the riders don't even win that but he's not a regular rider. I hope he
becomes more constant in his results. Don't you agree a man with his talent should belong in the
UCI top 10? But since that isn't the reality he still has a way to go to become a big one like
every cyclingfan expected him to become.

DiLuca (i gather it's him we're talking about here) has progressed in leaps. I remember marvelling
at his staying with the top dogs in a Giro or Vuelta in the high mountains recently, having
categorized him a "puncheur"... I think the discretion as to whether he can convert himself into a
true 3-week tour contender is still his. We've seen more astonishing metamorphoses: anybody wonder
about Honchar's sudden climbing forte? or how Jalabert won the TT worlds a few years ago? He may not
be a future TdF contender, but the Vuelta is well within his ropes IMO. After all, Kelly and
Jalabert won that one, too.

Alexander

"Kurgan Gringioni" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Excuse my ignorance, but what is his history? I'd never heard his name till last weekend. He towed
Bettini to the top of the Poggio?

He was the Under 23 World Champion silver medalist in 99. Neo-pro with Mapei in 2000 and won a stage
at the Tour de l'Avenir.

The next year, he had some nice results in mostly smaller stage races and had a good showing at the
Paris-Tours World Cup (11th). Last year, he won the Giro del Piemonte and took 2nd in the Tour of
the Walloon Region and at a Tour Down Under stage.

This year so far, in addition to his podium finish at La Primavera on Saturday, he had a second
place in a Tirreno stage and finished 9th overall, finished third in 2 Ruta del Sol and a Tour Down
Under stages.

Brother,

Cippo is the real deal, let me assure you of that. When he's in shape and hard, he can really stick
it to you from behind. I saw him blow right by another cyclist once. He keep coming and coming until
he exploded with force. Needless to say, he's my hero.

Fr. Guido

"Father Guido Sarducci" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Brother,

Cippo is the real deal, let me assure you of that. When he's in shape and hard, he can really
stick it to you from behind. I saw him blow right by another cyclist once. He keep coming and
coming until he exploded with force. Needless to say, he's my hero.

WHAT IN THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? Cip may be gay but he definitely ain't no [censored]. The only
thing he ever stuck from behind was his front fork. You ever been forked from behind? ,,,,,I thought
so,,,, step into my office cause YOU"RE FIRED?

Ralph

Quoted message said:

Fr. Guido