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:
members.rogers.comsixday.htmlOpen ↗

"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]-
ink.net...

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:
members.rogers.comsixday.htmlOpen ↗

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

Quoted message said:

"Davey Crockett" <[email hidden]> wrote in
message news:873c62ngec.fsf@cpe004023176ea9-
cm0f2069983361.cpe.net.cable.rogers.com...

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:<W-
[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

"Davey Crockett" <[email hidden]> wrote in
message news:873c62ngec.fsf@cpe004023176ea9-
cm0f2069983361.cpe.net.cable.rogers.com...

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.

"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 said:

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

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 said:

"Callistus Valerius" <[email hidden]> wrote in
message -"]news:[email hidden]-
rthlink.net...
> 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]-
>hlink.net...
>
>>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:20040515174940.08524.00001660@mb-
m02.aol.com...

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 ?

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

Quoted message said:

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

news:<[email hidden]>-
...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

"Mapei81" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:20040515174940.08524.00001660@mb-
m02.aol.com...

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

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

like

Quoted message said:

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

Pantani's

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

death

Quoted message said:

was impressive.

I don't think that Mario is washed up physically. I
think that he has

enough

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

money and enough fame and simply doesn't have the
motivation to train

hard

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

enough to be competitive.

What gave him the motivation in 2002 ?

A World Championship road course that suited him perfectly.

-T