Mario is done

(Davide Tosi) said:

This morning, after finishing 2nd to last in yesterday stage and after two
nights without sleeping, Domina Vacanze's doctor decided that it was time
for Cipo to retire from this Giro.
This is the first time that the Tuscan sprinter ends a Giro he entered
without winning at least one stage.

Personally, I also think that this was the last time we saw SuperMario in
the pink race. What happened in the last year showed that he's competitive
with the likes of Petacchi and McEwen anymore and his pride is just to big
to let him race for runner-up places. I wouldn't be surprised if the next
TdF will be announced as his last race as a pro, a sort of Goodbye Tour.

(Davide Tosi) said:

This morning, after finishing 2nd to last in yesterday stage and after two
nights without sleeping, Domina Vacanze's doctor decided that it was time
for Cipo to retire from this Giro.
This is the first time that the Tuscan sprinter ends a Giro he entered
without winning at least one stage.

Personally, I also think that this was the last time we saw SuperMario in
the pink race. What happened in the last year showed that he's competitive
with the likes of Petacchi and McEwen anymore and his pride is just to big
to let him race for runner-up places. I wouldn't be surprised if the next
TdF will be announced as his last race as a pro, a sort of Goodbye Tour.

Too bad really. Unfortunately every career has to come to an end and I personally thought that Cipollini was pushing it a little too far when he decided to race this year. I just wondered if he didn't still have some Olympic ambitions?

But as far as racers go, for my money he was the most entertaining rider for the last several years. I mean anyone can win Sprints, Stages and Grands Tours. Check the race-results. There isn't a single race that didn't have a winner.

But do the winners have class and style? That's a totally different matter. Petacchi, Armstrong? Shoot, I'd trade 50 Petacchis or Armstrongs any day for one real bike racer with class like Cipollini.

--
le Vent a Dos
Davey Crockett
Six-Day site: http://members.rogers.com/sixday/sixday.html

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

Quoted message said:

(Davide Tosi) said:

This morning, after finishing 2nd to last in yesterday stage and after

two

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

nights without sleeping, Domina Vacanze's doctor decided that it was

time

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

for Cipo to retire from this Giro.
This is the first time that the Tuscan sprinter ends a Giro he entered
without winning at least one stage.

Personally, I also think that this was the last time we saw SuperMario

in

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the pink race. What happened in the last year showed that he's

competitive

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

with the likes of Petacchi and McEwen anymore and his pride is just to

big

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

to let him race for runner-up places. I wouldn't be surprised if the

next

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

TdF will be announced as his last race as a pro, a sort of Goodbye Tour.

(Davide Tosi) said:

This morning, after finishing 2nd to last in yesterday stage and after

two

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

nights without sleeping, Domina Vacanze's doctor decided that it was

time

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

for Cipo to retire from this Giro.
This is the first time that the Tuscan sprinter ends a Giro he entered
without winning at least one stage.

Personally, I also think that this was the last time we saw SuperMario

in

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the pink race. What happened in the last year showed that he's

competitive

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

with the likes of Petacchi and McEwen anymore and his pride is just to

big

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

to let him race for runner-up places. I wouldn't be surprised if the

next

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

TdF will be announced as his last race as a pro, a sort of Goodbye Tour.

Too bad really. Unfortunately every career has to come to an end and I

personally thought that Cipollini was pushing it a little too far when he
decided to race this year. I just wondered if he didn't still have some
Olympic ambitions?

Quoted message said:

But as far as racers go, for my money he was the most entertaining rider

for the last several years. I mean anyone can win Sprints, Stages and Grands
Tours. Check the race-results. There isn't a single race that didn't have a
winner.

Quoted message said:

But do the winners have class and style? That's a totally different

matter. Petacchi, Armstrong? Shoot, I'd trade 50 Petacchis or Armstrongs any
day for one real bike racer with class like Cipollini.

He has definitly added a great deal of pleasure to the sport and will be
missed when the retirement is official. I hope he simply retires rather
than suffer more at the hands of the sprinters at the TdF, which will
include Boonen who says Petacchi doesn't phase him at all. Age catches up
with everyone.

Age catches up

Quoted message said:

with everyone.

Have you considered the bike he's forced to ride. Maybe a different
bike..........

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

Quoted message said:

Age catches up

Quoted message said:

with everyone.

Have you considered the bike he's forced to ride. Maybe a different
bike..........

Well, he did say during a stage of the Giro on OLN, "Cannondale. The besta
bike, eh."

On 05/15/2004 05:51 AM, in article
[email hidden], "B. Lafferty"

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

Age catches up

Quoted message said:

with everyone.

Have you considered the bike he's forced to ride. Maybe a different
bike..........

Well, he did say during a stage of the Giro on OLN, "Cannondale. The besta
bike, eh."

It was the Tour, on ESPN ... In 1997.

--
Steven L. Sheffield
stevens at veloworks dot com
veloworks at worldnet dot ay tea tee dot net
bellum pax est libertas servitus est ignoratio vis est
ess ay ell tea ell ay kay ee sea aye tee why you ti ay aitch
aitch tee tea pea colon [for word] slash [four ward] slash double-you
double-yew double-ewe dot veloworks dot com [four word] slash

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

Quoted message said:

This morning, after finishing 2nd to last in yesterday stage and after two
nights without sleeping, Domina Vacanze's doctor decided that it was time
for Cipo to retire from this Giro.
This is the first time that the Tuscan sprinter ends a Giro he entered
without winning at least one stage.

Personally, I also think that this was the last time we saw SuperMario in
the pink race. What happened in the last year showed that he's competitive
with the likes of Petacchi and McEwen anymore and his pride is just to big
to let him race for runner-up places. I wouldn't be surprised if the next
TdF will be announced as his last race as a pro, a sort of Goodbye Tour.

What a downer, I really thought he'd try and tough it out but obviously he
was miserable. He must have been in a lot of pain, and it's not like you can
take Darvocet or anything. He never would have given up if he thought he was
capable of continuing. Yes, it'll probably be his last giro which makes it
even sadder- not the exit he had planned I am sure. And he hoped to win a
stage and dedicate it to his friend pantani. Maybe someone else will do
that, who knows.

B. Lafferty said:

He has definitly added a great deal of pleasure to the sport and will be
missed when the retirement is official. I hope he simply retires rather
than suffer more at the hands of the sprinters at the TdF, which will
include Boonen who says Petacchi doesn't phase him at all. Age catches up
with everyone.

Yes, I would think that he should retire at the end of the year at the latest.

Kelly, I think stayed a little too long and after a superb win in Sanremo in 1992 disappointed badly in 1993 and 1994.

Jalabert I thought was going to hang around but he wisely decided to go whilst the writing on the wall was still barely legible 🙂

--
le Vent a Dos
Davey Crockett
Six-Day site: http://members.rogers.com/sixday/sixday.html

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

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

(Davide Tosi) said:

This morning, after finishing 2nd to last in yesterday stage and after

two

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

nights without sleeping, Domina Vacanze's doctor decided that it was

time

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

for Cipo to retire from this Giro.
This is the first time that the Tuscan sprinter ends a Giro he entered
without winning at least one stage.

Personally, I also think that this was the last time we saw SuperMario

in

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the pink race. What happened in the last year showed that he's

competitive

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

with the likes of Petacchi and McEwen anymore and his pride is just to

big

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

to let him race for runner-up places. I wouldn't be surprised if the

next

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

TdF will be announced as his last race as a pro, a sort of Goodbye Tour.

(Davide Tosi) said:

This morning, after finishing 2nd to last in yesterday stage and after

two

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

nights without sleeping, Domina Vacanze's doctor decided that it was

time

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

for Cipo to retire from this Giro.
This is the first time that the Tuscan sprinter ends a Giro he entered
without winning at least one stage.

Personally, I also think that this was the last time we saw SuperMario

in

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the pink race. What happened in the last year showed that he's

competitive

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

with the likes of Petacchi and McEwen anymore and his pride is just to

big

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

to let him race for runner-up places. I wouldn't be surprised if the

next

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

TdF will be announced as his last race as a pro, a sort of Goodbye Tour.

Too bad really. Unfortunately every career has to come to an end and I

personally thought that Cipollini was pushing it a little too far when he
decided to race this year. I just wondered if he didn't still have some
Olympic ambitions?

Quoted message said:

But as far as racers go, for my money he was the most entertaining rider

for the last several years. I mean anyone can win Sprints, Stages and Grands
Tours. Check the race-results. There isn't a single race that didn't have a
winner.

Quoted message said:

But do the winners have class and style? That's a totally different

matter. Petacchi, Armstrong? Shoot, I'd trade 50 Petacchis or Armstrongs any
day for one real bike racer with class like Cipollini.

He has definitly added a great deal of pleasure to the sport and will be
missed when the retirement is official. I hope he simply retires rather
than suffer more at the hands of the sprinters at the TdF, which will
include Boonen who says Petacchi doesn't phase him at all. Age catches up
with everyone.

I have no doubt that Cipo will take the start of the Tour de France -
he has too much respect for tradition and too strong of a
commemorative sense to sit out. And after this development in the
Giro, he will be forgiven for not finishing...

Even if he doesn't get to set off fireworks, though, Michele Scarponi
probably will as a major outside contender for GC...

-Sonarrat.

Sonarrat said:

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

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

[email hidden] (Davide Tosi) writes:

>This morning, after finishing 2nd to last in yesterday stage and after

two

Quoted message said:

>nights without sleeping, Domina Vacanze's doctor decided that it was

time

Quoted message said:

>for Cipo to retire from this Giro.
>This is the first time that the Tuscan sprinter ends a Giro he entered
>without winning at least one stage.
>
>Personally, I also think that this was the last time we saw SuperMario

in

Quoted message said:

>the pink race. What happened in the last year showed that he's

competitive

Quoted message said:

>with the likes of Petacchi and McEwen anymore and his pride is just to

big

Quoted message said:

>to let him race for runner-up places. I wouldn't be surprised if the

next

Quoted message said:

>TdF will be announced as his last race as a pro, a sort of Goodbye Tour.
>

[email hidden] (Davide Tosi) writes:

>This morning, after finishing 2nd to last in yesterday stage and after

two

Quoted message said:

>nights without sleeping, Domina Vacanze's doctor decided that it was

time

Quoted message said:

>for Cipo to retire from this Giro.
>This is the first time that the Tuscan sprinter ends a Giro he entered
>without winning at least one stage.
>
>Personally, I also think that this was the last time we saw SuperMario

in

Quoted message said:

>the pink race. What happened in the last year showed that he's

competitive

Quoted message said:

>with the likes of Petacchi and McEwen anymore and his pride is just to

big

Quoted message said:

>to let him race for runner-up places. I wouldn't be surprised if the

next

Quoted message said:

>TdF will be announced as his last race as a pro, a sort of Goodbye Tour.
>

Too bad really. Unfortunately every career has to come to an end and I

personally thought that Cipollini was pushing it a little too far when he
decided to race this year. I just wondered if he didn't still have some
Olympic ambitions?

Quoted message said:

But as far as racers go, for my money he was the most entertaining rider

for the last several years. I mean anyone can win Sprints, Stages and Grands
Tours. Check the race-results. There isn't a single race that didn't have a
winner.

Quoted message said:

But do the winners have class and style? That's a totally different

matter. Petacchi, Armstrong? Shoot, I'd trade 50 Petacchis or Armstrongs any
day for one real bike racer with class like Cipollini.

He has definitly added a great deal of pleasure to the sport and will be
missed when the retirement is official. I hope he simply retires rather
than suffer more at the hands of the sprinters at the TdF, which will
include Boonen who says Petacchi doesn't phase him at all. Age catches up
with everyone.

I have no doubt that Cipo will take the start of the Tour de France -
he has too much respect for tradition and too strong of a
commemorative sense to sit out. And after this development in the
Giro, he will be forgiven for not finishing...

Even if he doesn't get to set off fireworks, though, Michele Scarponi
probably will as a major outside contender for GC...

-Sonarrat.

Scarponi? Where at the Giro (he's not.. over in Spain at the Peace
Race..) or at Le Toor? Where yes I believe he can contend in the top
20, for sure at La Vuelta.

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

Quoted message said:

Sonarrat wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I have no doubt that Cipo will take the start of the Tour de France -
he has too much respect for tradition and too strong of a
commemorative sense to sit out. And after this development in the
Giro, he will be forgiven for not finishing...

Even if he doesn't get to set off fireworks, though, Michele Scarponi
probably will as a major outside contender for GC...

Quoted message said:

Scarponi? Where at the Giro (he's not.. over in Spain at the Peace
Race..)

Peace Race = Czech... and yes, he has all but won it with one flat stage to go.

Quoted message said:

or at Le Toor? Where yes I believe he can contend in the top
20, for sure at La Vuelta.

Not this Giro, obviously, though he placed higher in it last year than he did in
the Vuelta. I'm certain that he's primed for the TdF, and he ought to make
things very interesting...

-Sonarrat.

I will miss Mario a lot. I was lucky enough to be hanging around in a group of
riders before the start of the Tour one year, including Mario. He seemed like
a good guy, well-liked by the others. And his sensitivity to Pantani's death
was impressive.

Quoted message said:

Jalabert I thought was going to hang around but he wisely decided to go
whilst the writing on the wall was still barely legible 🙂

I don't think that's fair to JaJa. I thought he was going to hang on too long
as well, but that was before he went with Riis and CSC. IIRC, he won San
Sebastian and the polka-dot jersey in his last season - that's hardly evidence
that he was done.

Having said that, I'm glad he went out while he was still a winner. I wish
Lemond had done the same.

"Steven L. Sheffield" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On 05/15/2004 05:51 AM, in article
[email hidden], "B. Lafferty"

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

Age catches up
> with everyone.
>

Have you considered the bike he's forced to ride. Maybe a different
bike..........

Well, he did say during a stage of the Giro on OLN, "Cannondale. The besta
bike, eh."

It was the Tour, on ESPN ... In 1997.

And now, of course, he rides a Specialized, made in Morgan Hill, California...
my hometown, and don't think for a second I'm not proud of that. And as far as
I can tell, Cipo is very happy with his S-Works...

-Sonarrat.

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

Quoted message said:

"Steven L. Sheffield" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On 05/15/2004 05:51 AM, in article
[email hidden], "B. Lafferty"

Quoted message said:

"Callistus Valerius" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
> Age catches up
>> with everyone.
>>
>
> Have you considered the bike he's forced to ride. Maybe a

different

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> bike..........

Well, he did say during a stage of the Giro on OLN, "Cannondale. The

besta

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

bike, eh."

It was the Tour, on ESPN ... In 1997.

And now, of course, he rides a Specialized, made in Morgan Hill,

California...

Quoted message said:

my hometown, and don't think for a second I'm not proud of that. And as

far as

Quoted message said:

I can tell, Cipo is very happy with his S-Works...

-Sonarrat.

I really have to chuckle over riders commenting on the bikes they ride.
They pretty much ride what the sponsor gives them these days with some
exceptions. The only riders I can think of who spoke openly about bikes
were Robert Miller in the issue of CycleSport he edited a few years ago (a
classic) and Museeuw who had not nice things to say about Ernesto Colnago.

B. Lafferty said:

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

Quoted message said:

"Steven L. Sheffield" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On 05/15/2004 05:51 AM, in article
[email hidden], "B. Lafferty"
<[email hidden]> wrote:

>"Callistus Valerius" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
>news:[email hidden]...
>
>>Age catches up
>>
>>>with everyone.
>>>
>>
>> Have you considered the bike he's forced to ride. Maybe a

different

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>>bike..........
>
>Well, he did say during a stage of the Giro on OLN, "Cannondale. The

besta

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>bike, eh."

It was the Tour, on ESPN ... In 1997.

And now, of course, he rides a Specialized, made in Morgan Hill,

California...

Quoted message said:

my hometown, and don't think for a second I'm not proud of that. And as

far as

Quoted message said:

I can tell, Cipo is very happy with his S-Works...

-Sonarrat.

I really have to chuckle over riders commenting on the bikes they ride.
They pretty much ride what the sponsor gives them these days with some
exceptions. The only riders I can think of who spoke openly about bikes
were Robert Miller in the issue of CycleSport he edited a few years ago (a
classic) and Museeuw who had not nice things to say about Ernesto Colnago.

Someone (Merckx?) had some choice words about Peugeots, saying they
descended horribly and he didn't worry about someone getting away over a
mountain on one because he could easily catch them down the other side.

Sonarrat' .. said:

Quoted message said:

or at Le Toor? Where yes I believe he can contend in the top
20, for sure at La Vuelta.

Not this Giro, obviously, though he placed higher in it last year than he did in
the Vuelta. I'm certain that he's primed for the TdF, and he ought to make
things very interesting...

I think that MS will end next Tour in GC top 10 and will also take the
white jersey for the best youngster.

In article <[email hidden]>,

(Davide Tosi) said:

This morning, after finishing 2nd to last in yesterday stage and after two
nights without sleeping

I never believe anyone when they say they haven't slept for days.
Anyone try not sleeping for two nights and two days? You'd
be a total wreck.

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

Quoted message said:

Someone (Merckx?) had some choice words about Peugeots, saying they
descended horribly and he didn't worry about someone getting away over a
mountain on one because he could easily catch them down the other side.

That could have been me as well. I had several Peugeots and with the
standard fork they were absolutely horrible down hills.

"Mapei81" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I will miss Mario a lot. I was lucky enough to be hanging around in a

group of

Quoted message said:

riders before the start of the Tour one year, including Mario. He seemed

like

Quoted message said:

a good guy, well-liked by the others. And his sensitivity to Pantani's

death

Quoted message said:

was impressive.

I don't think that Mario is washed up physically. I think that he has enough
money and enough fame and simply doesn't have the motivation to train hard
enough to be competitive.

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

Quoted message said:

"Mapei81" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I will miss Mario a lot. I was lucky enough to be hanging around in a

group of

Quoted message said:

riders before the start of the Tour one year, including Mario. He seemed

like

Quoted message said:

a good guy, well-liked by the others. And his sensitivity to Pantani's

death

Quoted message said:

was impressive.

I don't think that Mario is washed up physically. I think that he has enough
money and enough fame and simply doesn't have the motivation to train hard
enough to be competitive.

What gave him the motivation in 2002 ?