Ricco

[thehog]

As I've said before, the only constant thing about Wiggo is he get's ****ed off with whoever or whatever is giving him a headache at that moment. Doper makes his life hard (cofidis?) - "bl**dy dopers". Lance is nice to him "lovely lance" - lance's crap makes his life hard "bl**dy lance" - fans hail him (2009) - love the fans - fans turn on him a bit in 2012 "bl**dy fans, a**eholes"

I think he likes the kudos of winning the tour. Not sure he actually respects the race (see Giro 2013 for examples) - poor man is probably happiest wheeling on wooden circles.

I think he's annoyed that his life is made harder by Oprah - i'm not sure he gives a d*** otherwise.

Bit of a pr!ck, really. We all know the type.

Wiggins talks about Kilburn.

But he had the track program support from 15 onwards. He was well looked after.

Ricco grew up in an area I know very well near Modena.

There's no track program there. A lot of clubs though. Many many clubs. But no support like a track program or an academy. Coaching comes from retired or semi-retired cyclists. Then there's loads of pushers about.

The BC junior team used to have an entire villa near Lucca run by Max Sciandri. The Italians had nothing.

That's the difference.

Ricco would have learnt the trade very early. That's all he ever knew.

That's why I see it vastly different than an Aussie or Brit. And give him a break.

But phenomenal training roads and the best of the best are all there. Doped or not.

 

[42x16ss]

Yes. They are. Of course they are.

Are you encouraging doping now??


And if they can't stomach that possiblity, get out of the sport and find something less painful to do.

Nobody's encouraging doping (at least I hope so!), just making an effort to understand how riders rationalise it and how they can see things as "damned if I do, damned if I don't."

I think you're over simplifying things. Most of us don't want Ricco to ever go near a team or officially sanctioned race ever again but the fact is we can't stop him from riding a bike and we certainly can't stop him from getting out and finding some motivation, as misguided as it may be.

Watching Ricco get out and have a red hot go at breaking the records for some of the world's greatest climbs promises to be truly entertaining. Despite his doping violations Ricco can really ride a bike and would probably have been a decent pro in any era. This stunt has the potential to put some of the climbing times we are seeing in races now into perspective, which could really stir the pot. I wouldn't be surprised if this is Ricco's ulterior motive, I certainly hope so

 

[del1962]

Hey, look. It's Sky doping apologist #1 complaining about "hypocracy".

oh look its the master of baiting

 

[martinvickers]

Nobody's encouraging doping (at least I hope so!), just making an effort to understand how riders rationalise it and how they can see things as "damned if I do, damned if I don't."

I think you're over simplifying things. Most of us don't want Ricco to ever go near a team or officially sanctioned race ever again but the fact is we can't stop him from riding a bike and we certainly can't stop him from getting out and finding some motivation, as misguided as it may be.

Apologies if i was less than precise. Let me be clear; He can ride his bike whenever he likes, god knows it's good therapy. When I mean stay away from the sport, I mean the pro competitive element - the 'sport' bit as opposed to te 'recreational'

Watching Ricco get out and have a red hot go at breaking the records for some of the world's greatest climbs promises to be truly entertaining. Despite his doping violations Ricco can really ride a bike and would probably have been a decent pro in any era. This stunt has the potential to put some of the climbing times we are seeing in races now into perspective, which could really stir the pot. I wouldn't be surprised if this is Ricco's ulterior motive, I certainly hope so

Like Benotti, this is the bit I'm uncomfortable with - both for the damage it could do the sport, and more importantly pehaps, the damage it could do him. To watch that would REALLY feel dangerously close to enabling self-destructive behaviour...but of course, ymmv, and it's not meant as a slight on those who feel differently, just my feeling on it.

 

[martinvickers]

Wiggins talks about Kilburn.

But he had the track program support from 15 onwards. He was well looked after.

Ricco grew up in an area I know very well near Modena.

There's no track program there. A lot of clubs though. Many many clubs. But no support like a track program or an academy. Coaching comes from retired or semi-retired cyclists. Then there's loads of pushers about.

The BC junior team used to have an entire villa near Lucca run by Max Sciandri. The Italians had nothing.

That's the difference.

Ricco would have learnt the trade very early. That's all he ever knew.

That's why I see it vastly different than an Aussie or Brit. And give him a break.

But phenomenal training roads and the best of the best are all there. Doped or not.

You paint a vivid picture, Hog, and I thank you sincerely for that. Lots to mull.

You know, this place sometimes gets weighed down with some fairly stupid stuff where people have a go at nationalities. IT p's me off, and I'm not even one of the nationalities (brit, us, spanish, italian, russian) that comes in for the 'abuse'.

There is no gene for doping - anybody is capable, and 'dirty italians', 'dirty brits' etc is a going nowhere conversation - i just shake my head when i see references to whole peoples. But this sort of stuff you've shown does point to genuine structural issues. I'm too fond of italy (I got married there, among other things) not to hope for structural chance.

I don't even know where to start on that. Italian political culture may be too volatile to take the lead. But a beautiful country with beautiful races, and the capacity to produce great riders, needs better than the culture you outline so vividly.

And Ricco needs support so he can live without the pro sport, if not without the bike.

p.s. Sciandri. hmmmm.

 

[BigMac]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/report-ricco-caught-buying-doping-products

lol

 

[Clausfarre]

It is just as funny as it is ridiculous. Ricco climbs the world, wants to beat the times but gets caught with the juice before we can see his "amazing" bike skills.

Someone, make a Ricco movie!

 

[martinvickers]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/report-ricco-caught-buying-doping-products

lol

Oh, Ricco, for the love of Yahweh!

 

[RedheadDane]

I thought there was a limit to how stupid a person could be.
Looks like I was wrong...

 

[melkemugg]

The drugs sure love Ricco

 

[BeagRigh]

 

[Benotti69]

I thought there was a limit to how stupid a person could be.
Looks like I was wrong...

Ricco is following a well worn path that many in the sport have walked. Dont kid yourself that other former pros have not turned from doper to dealer.

That Ricco was buying stuff in a MaccyDs car park is not too dissimilar to Emma O'Reilly handing Armstrong his stash all those years ago in a car park.

The Police only have to get lucky once to catch you, but how many times will you have done it before you get caught.

 

[Dear Wiggo]

One of the dealers works in a hospital. Ricco gets caught, sure, but there's a lot more to this story than one ex-pro getting caught.

IMO, he's almost irrelevant.

The supply chain is where it's at.

 

[Benotti69]

One of the dealers works in a hospital. Ricco gets caught, sure, but there's a lot more to this story than one ex-pro getting caught.

IMO, he's almost irrelevant.

The supply chain is where it's at.

I guess lots of dope goes walkabout from hospitals all over the world.

 

[Dear Wiggo]

I guess lots of dope goes walkabout from hospitals all over the world.

100 doses. 30 doses. You'd think someone would notice...

Unless working in a hospital allows you to meet drug reps, who don't mind who they sell it to.

 

[RobbieCanuck]

I am waiting for the thread accusing McDonalds of being part of an evil plan to use their parking lots to deal in PEDs. That will be a Big Mac with "triple cheese please"!

 

[Benotti69]

100 doses. 30 doses. You'd think someone would notice...

Unless working in a hospital allows you to meet drug reps, who don't mind who they sell it to.

Got to make a buck somehow

Wonder how many 'invisible' patients in hospitals exist being prescribed PEDs

 

[the sceptic]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/report-ricco-caught-buying-doping-products

lol

Ricco.. always unlucky. If he was british and riding for sky he could be a multiple grand tour champion but instead he has become the scapegoat for all the hypocrites out there.

I was looking forward to see how fast he would go on Ventoux. Wont be any fun if he has to do it cleans.

 

[Benotti69]

Ricco.. always unlucky. If he was british and riding for sky he could be a multiple grand tour champion but instead he has become the scapegoat for all the hypocrites out there.

I was looking forward to see how fast he would go on Ventoux. Wont be any fun if he has to do it cleans.

Wont be easy doing it from inside jail......

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Ricco.. always unlucky. If he was british and riding for sky he could be a multiple grand tour champion but instead he has become the scapegoat for all the hypocrites out there.

I was looking forward to see how fast he would go on Ventoux. Wont be any fun if he has to do it cleans.

yea. Im going to Ventoux tonight. Would have liked to see how fast I go compared to an all charged Ricco

 

[Benito]

Other rider involved is Matteo Cappè, 37 years old, former professional (in 2003 and 2004) and currently doing Granfondos. link to source

 

[spalco]

For ****'s sake, Ricco...

 

[webbie146]

Ricco.. always unlucky. If he was british and riding for sky he could be a multiple grand tour champion but instead he has become the scapegoat for all the hypocrites out there.

I was looking forward to see how fast he would go on Ventoux. Wont be any fun if he has to do it cleans.

I agree, besides him racing to the top of Ventoux is just for fun. They just can't give that guy a break. Who cares is he dopes himself. They should focus on guys that are actively doping in the peleton, instead of giving this guy a hard time

And damn I really wanted to see if he could beat Mayo's

 

[MarkvW]

Ricco.. always unlucky. If he was british and riding for sky he could be a multiple grand tour champion but instead he has become the scapegoat for all the hypocrites out there.

I was looking forward to see how fast he would go on Ventoux. Wont be any fun if he has to do it cleans.

He was reckless, gluttonous, and not too bright.

 

[luckyboy]

damn, ridiculous