Does Ricco get it?

[St. Elia]

A true cynic for you.

I have to say, from the perspective of an American living in Italy, that he does "get it" in an Italian way. Italy is a Catholic nation, which means the culture places less emphasis on punishment for a sin, than it does on the possiblity of obtaining divine redemption. Something which is in direct contrast to the anglo-american protestant societies, which, as everybody knows, are of the puritanical ethos: that thus emphasize punishment and tend to be more moralistic in their judgments of personal behavior and consequently are less likely to just "forgive and forget". The most concrete example of what I just said is the Tiger "scandal" in America, which in Italy makes no sense. On the one hand because Italians generally aren't moralistic and, secondly, because they know that it's better not to condem too fiercly the private sins of one's neighbor, so as not to be too severly condemned for one's own.

Riccò is speaking to his Italian countrymen. What the puritans out there among the other nations have to say about him he couldnt care less about, also because they have no bearing on his culturaly informed (as an Italian) world view. And in any case what does he have to feel sorry about? For getting caught? When someone like LA pays $ 200,000 to the UCI anti-doping program, the same governing body that will be testing Mr. Armstrong (how could they then possibly find him positive after receiving such a generous sum?) When Valverde is still racing with impunity by his Spanish nation and Basso got a two year ban for the same offence? When 90% of the peleton is doped to their gills in the big races. And when he knows how the game will still be played a certain way, even upon his return. Their is nothing worse than hypocritical fake remorse.

I think you nailed it, especially the second paragraph!!

 

[BikeCentric]

Have you ever climbed a real mountain in a race? Any of you? Come on, the guy is a star.

Smoookin!

I have many, many times.

Ricco is no doubt a great climber even clean and he has a nasty attack when the road goes up, I'll happily give him those compliments. But he is also an unrepentant drug cheat and a total a-hole so I don't have to root for him if I don't want to and I don't.

You are likewise free to chose who you would like to be a fan of in this sport but I don't think it reflects positively on you to come on here and bait those that are not also fans of Ricco.

 

[BikeCentric]

The sad thing is is that he probably will still do really well without the dope (assuming he doesn't go back to doping, which wouldn't surprise me). The dude has a ferocious kick when he jumps, and that will always get you close to a couple of wins.

Do keep in mind that Leonardo Piepoli, and old and fairly mediocre climbing domestique, was able to go right with Ricco despite his ferocious kick at the Tour.

Of course they were both found to have had their veins filled with CERA (and no doubt a gelatinous goo of hematocrit-thickened blood) to be able to ride away from everyone like that.

My point? Blood boosters so distort performance that the old man Piepoli was able to kick just as ferociously as the Cobra on that stage and we just don't know how good Ricco is when he's racing clean.

 

[hope_rides_again]

Do keep in mind that Leonardo Piepoli, and old and fairly mediocre climbing domestique, was able to go right with Ricco despite his ferocious kick at the Tour.

Of course they were both found to have had their veins filled with CERA (and no doubt a gelatinous goo of hematocrit-thickened blood) to be able to ride away from everyone like that.

My point? Blood boosters so distort performance that the old man Piepoli was able to kick just as ferociously as the Cobra on that stage and we just don't know how good Ricco is when he's racing clean.

There was a very good article in ProCycling magazine some months ago. It was investigation of the effects of EPO & blood transfusions in peleton. What the study found that the distort came to mountain climbers. Good climbers wouldn't get the effect of EPO for climbers whereby flat terrian riders became really good climbers and had explosive kicks. Therefore climbers couldn't get the massive gains they used to, to make up for the loses in TT's etc.

I'm reference to the above do you remember the Hautacam stage in 2008? That was really really stupid looking stage. The distort is obvious.

 

[gatete]

why he was caught

I think I've said this before, Ricco went to the TDF with the intent of showing Contador what he missed , remember how hot he was at the Giro that year, were he got dissed by AC on his own terrain, and worst were he stated that he wasn't going to allow AC win anything.

Nooo he had to go and rub it in his face. Well ain't karma such a biatch.

 

[rhubroma]

Do keep in mind that Leonardo Piepoli, and old and fairly mediocre climbing domestique, was able to go right with Ricco despite his ferocious kick at the Tour.QUOTE]

You don't know squat about cycling. Piepoli a "fairly mediocre climbing domestique"?

The guy had won stages at the Vuelta and Giro, was at the time the best in the business in the role he was asked to perform.

 

[Michele]

The funny thing about Piepoli is that when asked "why dont you ride Giro" he would answer "I suffer asmha (sorry for mispelling) and in May it's really bad to me".

Then over 30y.o. he switched his racing schedule by putting inside the Giro and he was strong as never had been before.

 

[Mellow Velo]

The funny thing about Piepoli is that when asked "why dont you ride Giro" he would answer "I suffer asmha (sorry for mispelling) and in May it's really bad to me".

Then over 30y.o. he switched his racing schedule by putting inside the Giro and he was strong as never had been before.

Global Warming?

I find it hard to get hot under the collar, over the return of a colourful talent, after serving his time, when there are a bunch of criminals out there, plying their trade.
Some, I'm fairly sure, with a fairy godfather looking after their common interest.

 

[BikeCentric]

You don't know squat about cycling. Piepoli a "fairly mediocre climbing domestique"?

The guy had won stages at the Vuelta and Giro, was at the time the best in the business in the role he was asked to perform.

Whoops, my bad, I may have mischaractized the abilities of ONE RIDER. That truly proves I know nothing about cycling.

I though you were, like, smart or something? Aren't you suppossed to be a teacher?

 

[Cloxxki]

Bram Tankink, when Ricco's news came out, said he had just recently hit him in the face because of his behaviour in the pack, and was glad he did so in time.

I for one hope Ricco gets caught right again. Preferably out of competition, before he gets any start. 2nd time is for keeps.
He may want to make sure to stay in the middel of the pack when descending in the mountains. With his ego, bends can get pretty tight...

 

[flicker]

Please God take Ricco out of cycling. Let him run as far away as possible. AMEN

 

[flicker]

Italy is a Catholic nation, which means the culture places less emphasis on punishment for a sin, than it does on the possiblity of obtaining divine redemption.

Italy a country who worships Marco Pantani: drug addict and Ricarrdo Ricco the man who worships Marco Pantani.

I don't think the cycling tifosi of Italy are Catholic but they sure are ignorant.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Italy is a Catholic nation, which means the culture places less emphasis on punishment for a sin, than it does on the possiblity of obtaining divine redemption.

Italy a country who worships Marco Pantani: drug addict and Ricarrdo Ricco the man who worships Marco Pantani.

I don't think the cycling tifosi of Italy are Catholic but they sure are ignorant.

A truly appalling post.
Ignorant, inaccurate, xenophobic and hypocritical, in equal measure.

 

[Michele]

Love you flicker

 

[pedaling squares]

I find it hard to get hot under the collar, over the return of a colourful talent, after serving his time, when there are a bunch of criminals out there, plying their trade.
Some, I'm fairly sure, with a fairy godfather looking after their common interest.

Exactly.

Please God take Ricco out of cycling. Let him run as far away as possible. AMEN

His sins, doping and being an arrogant knob, are hardly unique in this sport. Apply your logic fairly and we'll have a pretty small peloton.

Italy is a Catholic nation, which means the culture places less emphasis on punishment for a sin, than it does on the possiblity of obtaining divine redemption.

Italy a country who worships Marco Pantani: drug addict and Ricarrdo Ricco the man who worships Marco Pantani.

I don't think the cycling tifosi of Italy are Catholic but they sure are ignorant.

Uh ok. Looks like you're trying to get a rise out of people. Sorry, not taking the bait.

 

[flicker]

Hey, I look at this guy Ricco after zipping up some grueling climb in the Giro and the Italian camaras are pushing into the tent an Rico is trying to hide towell around his neck. I say cool this guy is some athlete. Then he spouts off about Pantani and I look at him and Selle and Piepolli and I say uh oh.

Rico starts spouting off about how totally epic Pantani was and I say why, why do you have to model that guy. I was mad. Sorry about the previous posts. I will sit down.

 

[Libera]

Marco Pantani is one of my heroes. The Cobra and I have this in common. If this makes me a bad person, then so be it. If fact, when I think about it, I like being bad.

 

[flicker]

Yeah its OK you Floyd and Marco P. have the cute lil elfen ears and mischeveous grin. It goes with the Christmas season.