Cipo being Cipo

[El Pistolero]

no.ricco is better than contador.

In your dream world perhaps.

An off form Contador could already put a 2 minute gap on Ricco.

 

[Angliru]

no.ricco is better than contador.

Surely you jest??!!! They're almost the same age but there is no comparison in what the two have accomplished as professionals. Ricco has yet to win a major stage race, which is his specialty.

 

[jens_attacks]

chill i was just kidding

 

[Boeing]

I wonder what he thinks of all the retired vets in his era who don't have his hairline?

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

I wouldn't have a problem with what he says if it wasn't that he mostly did nothing during a race besides a little sprint(there are some exceptions though. And I'm talking about racing not about all the controversies he started). You were never a macho Cipo.

Let's not forget the nerves it takes to do the bunch sprints. It probably takes more nerves to do the sprints than contest the GC. The GC guys can ride over the cols and do the mountain finishes in relatively open space with room to maneuver, where the tense moments are likely to be the high speed sketchy descents, sometimes in bad conditions. In the bunch sprints the GC guys are doing their best to stay out of trouble. But the sprinters and their leadouts are bar banging, shoulder barging, where a little touch of the wheels can send a group to the tarmac. That takes some cajones, so I wouldn't discount the sprinters mojo.

 

[hrotha]

I thought Cipo's comments were pretty dumb, especially the part regarding Basso.

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

Contador was making clear Schleck didn't win because he was the strongest, but that Contador gave it to him as a gift.

Isn't that the cocky attitude Cipo wants?

You do have a point it (the touchy thing) could be interpreted that way.

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

I thought Cipo's comments were pretty dumb, especially the part regarding Basso.

I'd agree the Basso part made me raise my eyebrows, as that was an odd comment Cipo made. I mean, why leniency with Ivan? They ALL knew from the Festina Affair in '98 that the authorities were going to turn up the screws on doping. It's a little like the speed limit... there are no excuses.

 

[peacefultribe]

I love Cipo, but he seems to have a selective memory. I remember watching while he dragged himself up the hills in Georgia begging anybody within earshot to give him a push. My girlfriend, who would normally love the chance to grap Cipo's behind, told him to push himself up the hill. It was a sad display, but he did light it up on other stages.

He's a character, like many of the other Italian cyclists. Cycling needs guys like that, even if they do have warped views of reality.

I wonder what he thinks of Miguel Indurain, who was another quiet Spaniard. Contador is no Indurain, but he would be a lot more likable if LA didn't behave like a spoiled teenaged girl during the 2009 Tour.

 

[theswordsman]

I'm a Contador fan - my name was one of the 250 on the bike for one stage of the Tour. But I didn't enjoy this year's race, mostly because of the lovefest. I feel a bit better having read that the youtube apology video was Riis's idea, not Alberto's. But the stage where they didn't fight out the finish, and rode off with arms around each other bothered me. I didn't see it as a pinch, but a few minutes later, Andy was talking to someone, and Alberto was saying his name to get his attention, then he finally put his hand on the side of Andy's face, turned it toward him, and winked. Then there was the final stage into Paris, when Alberto sped off away from the peloton, Andy chased him, and the camera treated us to the two of them riding along holding hands.

I definitely agree with Cipo that I never want to watch that sort of thing again. But I think that a lot of the top guys in stage races care a lot about how they finish - they just don't act like sprinters. Thinking about how guys battled through everything in the Giro last year helps me get over the Tour nonsense, like Cancellara's slow down and the rest. But when he talks about guys riding each other into a ditch and stuff like that, the sport doesn't need it. And just because a guy can pull himself together after a stage battle and shake hands with the winner doesn't mean they didn't care enough, or go all out to the line.

I think a lot of it could be settled with time bonuses for the stages. GC guys don't gift placings in stages when it means giving the other guy time in the overall.

It was an entertaining read for December, though.

 

[El Pistolero]

Let's not forget the nerves it takes to do the bunch sprints. It probably takes more nerves to do the sprints than contest the GC. The GC guys can ride over the cols and do the mountain finishes in relatively open space with room to maneuver, where the tense moments are likely to be the high speed sketchy descents, sometimes in bad conditions. In the bunch sprints the GC guys are doing their best to stay out of trouble. But the sprinters and their leadouts are bar banging, shoulder barging, where a little touch of the wheels can send a group to the tarmac. That takes some cajones, so I wouldn't discount the sprinters mojo.

True, but I think the pain level of a Contador is quite a few times higher during a race than Cipo ever had to endure

Cipo is the one that always dropped out when things started to become uphill at the Tour. Then sending pics around the world while he was on a vacation while others were suffering like dogs. That's not macho Cipo, that's being a pussy. I bet Cipo is really glad that he doesn't have to ride a Giro like 2010 or 2011. And let's be honest, his clothing style has some feminine touch to it.

 

[Arnout]

True, but I think the pain level of a Contador is quite a few times higher during a race than Cipo ever had to endure

Cipo is the one that always dropped out when things started to become uphill at the Tour. Then sending pics around the world while he was on a vacation while others were suffering like dogs. That's not macho Cipo, that's being a pussy. I bet Cipo is really glad that he doesn't have to ride a Giro like 2010 or 2011. And let's be honest, his clothing style has some feminine touch to it.

Don't touch Cipo's racing attitude. Don't forget that he always tried to finish the Giro. And in fact, Cipo was one of the most serious pro's of his time, always training to be in good shape. It says a lot that he could compete for victory in California in 2008 because he felt like it after three retirement years.

Maybe the fact that Cipo didn't finish the mountain stages says more about his competitors than about him.

I agree with him though on the current riders. Especially Andy Schleck, I think the guy doesn't care enough. I think if the roles were reversed (Contador 2nd, Schleck 1st), Contador wouldn't be equally happy.

 

[gttim!]

I love Cipo, but he seems to have a selective memory. I remember watching while he dragged himself up the hills in Georgia begging anybody within earshot to give him a push. My girlfriend, who would normally love the chance to grap Cipo's behind, told him to push himself up the hill. It was a sad display, but he did light it up on other stages.

Half the riders from Europe only knew limited English, which included "Push, push me!"

http://betterinhaledeeply.blogspot.com/2006/04/tour-de-georgia-rewind.html

I did touch his ***, in a masculine, non-sexual way. Honest.

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

True, but I think the pain level of a Contador is quite a few times higher during a race than Cipo ever had to endure

Cipo is the one that always dropped out when things started to become uphill at the Tour. Then sending pics around the world while he was on a vacation while others were suffering like dogs. That's not macho Cipo, that's being a pussy. I bet Cipo is really glad that he doesn't have to ride a Giro like 2010 or 2011. And let's be honest, his clothing style has some feminine touch to it.

You are absolutely right on the level of Conti. And I used to have the same view on Cipo always dropping out of the GT's. Then I started appreciating the sprints more and realized his objective for the sponsors was to win stages. It is a bit disappointing he did not try to get over the mountains so much, but he was a big guy [189 cm (6'2") 80 kg (176 lbs) ] and not very good in the mountains. That might qualify as being pussy, but he was not that way in sprints.

 

[ergmonkey]

Enough with the "feminine" nonsense. There's one thing delightfully feminine in the following photo, and it ain't Cipo:

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

Enough with the "feminine" nonsense. There's one thing delightfully feminine in the following photo, and it ain't Cipo:

Does that count as delivering the goods to the sponsors?

 

[la.margna]

Who cares about the opinion of an old and lame tax-cheater? Luckily some riders have more class than this ego-maniac-pus.y! Those machos who think they are strong are actually the weak, poor guys...

yeah, Cipo, you're a poor sad masculin-mad pus.y!!

 

[roundabout]

This picture is probably the widest I remember Casagrande smile.

 

[BroDeal]

Enough with the "feminine" nonsense. There's one thing delightfully feminine in the following photo, and it ain't Cipo:

Cipo may need to work on the macho bit. Everyone's sword but his is erect.

 

[Angliru]

True, but I think the pain level of a Contador is quite a few times higher during a race than Cipo ever had to endure

Cipo is the one that always dropped out when things started to become uphill at the Tour. Then sending pics around the world while he was on a vacation while others were suffering like dogs. That's not macho Cipo, that's being a pussy. I bet Cipo is really glad that he doesn't have to ride a Giro like 2010 or 2011. And let's be honest, his clothing style has some feminine touch to it.

He did happen to win the points competition 3 times in the Giro. I think in order to win or even be eligible you have to finish all 3 weeks. So I will forgive him for dropping out of the Tour after previously finishing another grand tour that was likely more mountainous than the Tour. Additionally I would guess his sponsors were more than happy with what he brought to the table in the Giro and whatever Tour stages he won prior to exiting gracefully.

As far as his fashion style having a feminine touch to it, I'd like to see pictures supporting your viewpoint because I just remember him showing exceptional style with the pinnacle being when he showed up on the podium in a exquisite white suit.

 

[lightclimber]

First time I have ever literally laughed out loud by myself while reading these forums.

I couldn't agree more. If JV were really capable of being the "best coach in the world" (as he himself has claimed on this website), then he would have found a way to "thrash the meek and nervous suckitude" out of Tom Danielson a long, long time ago. JV should also have the balls to fire a guy he clearly likes on a personal level so as to make room for a real badass helper like Jeremy Hunt.

I am also hoping the Garmin-Cervelo alliance might result in Thor Hushovd thrashing the aw-shucks goofiness from Tyler Farrar's face. Farrar is pretty ripped and fast, but he needs to stop being a toothy, oversized, ginger-haired Michael Boogerd and start head-butting Mark Cavendish in the face if he really wants to be taken seriously.

two thumbs up!

And two thumbs up for what Cipo said too!

 

[lightclimber]

First time I have ever literally laughed out loud by myself while reading these forums.

I couldn't agree more. If JV were really capable of being the "best coach in the world" (as he himself has claimed on this website), then he would have found a way to "thrash the meek and nervous suckitude" out of Tom Danielson a long, long time ago. JV should also have the balls to fire a guy he clearly likes on a personal level so as to make room for a real badass helper like Jeremy Hunt.

I am also hoping the Garmin-Cervelo alliance might result in Thor Hushovd thrashing the aw-shucks goofiness from Tyler Farrar's face. Farrar is pretty ripped and fast, but he needs to stop being a toothy, oversized, ginger-haired Michael Boogerd and start head-butting Mark Cavendish in the face if he really wants to be taken seriously.

two thumbs up!

And too thumbs up for what Cipo said too!

 

[boardhanger]

Cipo's right cycling is boring 'handbags at 10 paces' racing nowadays. I've been hounded on these forums for saying so before. Cipo's right lets make rivials and teams hate each other. None of this gentleman stuff......BORING !!!

 

[auscyclefan94]

because menchov and gesink are no true leaders. they are cowdards

You are a very brave man. The Dutch mafia are everywhere! they know when you are sleeping, then know when you're awake, they know if you've been bad or good...

 

[Mambo95]

Hmmm,

Cipo says these things and gets praised.

Cavendish puts the words into practice and gets castigated.

Funny old world.


(yes, yes, broad generalisations)