[Shocking] Cipollini announces his comeback!

[SimonC]

Never gonna happen. To old, been out of racing to long and hasn't done the required dope tests.
Just Cipo looking for some media exposure.

 

[Havetts]

Something in me tells me that it is going to happen

 

[Swabian Lass]

Much as I'd love to see Cipo line up for the Giro, I can't see it happening. This is a publicity stunt.

 

[hrotha]

Haha, a 45-year-old Cipollini leading out Guardini? I hope they remove all bumps from Italian roads.

 

[Geraint Too Fast]

You're a bit early Mario, April 1st is still a few weeks away.

 

[Machu Picchu]

and have we heard anything from Guardini about this? he'll be getting a lot of attention at the Giro, does the next italian superstar sprinter wish to share the Giro stage with Cipo? would he benefit from this?_?

 

[the asian]

Good for the Giro if it happens. Unfortunately it rests in the hand s of the UCI.
Will they show the same leniency to Cipo as they did to Lance??

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

and the stoy about riccardo ricco it was indeed just an appetizer for this.if this happens,it will be just crazy,i'd love it to see the king back

Well, the Ricco story was crazy bad and sad. This Cippo story is crazy good. I'd love to see him back too.

 

[Fetisoff]

Wow. This would just be to awesome to be true.

 

[palmerq]

does cipo have his own range of bicycles to promote ? :S Would be one of the funniest things ever if it actually happens though but I think it is just a publicity stunt, he'd have to dodge the drug testing rule and surely he would have to do some races before the giro to get ready, a bit late to start a comeback for the giro now... Hope it happens though

 

[Carols]

Well I hope it happens...I'd Love to see Mario racing again. No expectations for victories, just putting it out there for all to enjoy

 

[Fetisoff]

does cipo have his own range of bicycles to promote ? :S Would be one of the funniest things ever if it actually happens though but I think it is just a publicity stunt, he'd have to dodge the drug testing rule and surely he would have to do some races before the giro to get ready, a bit late to start a comeback for the giro now... Hope it happens though

Yes he does. And, of course, Farnese-Vini ride them.

 

[Parrulo]

it would be freaking awesome lol

 

[mewmewmew13]

Let him come back! He would add some EXCITEMENT to the peloton...age should not matter if he is fit and wanting to compete.

He can say he has already broached the idea to the UCI 6 months ago..
and maybe he has!

Cipo!!

 

[Zam_Olyas]

This is just hilarious or will be hilarious. him leading out guardini...will they both be still in the race at the end of a hard lumpy stage lol.

 

[CatsNK]

Looks as if he'd have to drop about 30lbs. With his age he can't afford to be hauling around all that extra weight.

Impressive, if he can pull it off. Older guys can do amazing things - Didier Cuche is 37 and he puts guys 15 years younger than him to shame. He says he's retiring but he's really going out when he's at the top of his game. Peaking at 37 in downhill ski racing is pretty impressive...

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

and have we heard anything from Guardini about this? he'll be getting a lot of attention at the Giro, does the next italian superstar sprinter wish to share the Giro stage with Cipo? would he benefit from this?_?

does he have a choice? cipo is the star and guardini will never be one. even if he wins eveyrthing there is. nobody would care for him in italy as he isn't charismatic or showman. it would be great for giro if cipo did this as cipo would mena people tune in to watch

 

[Zam_Olyas]

does he have a choice? cipo is the star and guardini will never be one. even if he wins eveyrthing there is. nobody would care for him in italy as he isn't charismatic or showman. it would be great for giro if cipo did this as cipo would mena people tune in to watch

True.
........

 

[Stingray34]

lol@supermario

Stick to porno, big man...these kids will rip your heart out and you'll never get to expire in the orgy you've always dreamt of.

 

[The Hitch]

Sad news imo. That someone like Cipo with all that he achieved continues to lust for the bike so much that he feels the need to come back.

We see similar attitudes from Lance and Rebbelin who hasn't even bothered with the retirement stage.

Guys should follow the Merckx example. Push yourself to the absolute max in the 15-20 years of your career, then let yourself go.

 

[Stingray34]

Sad news imo. That someone like Cipo with all that he achieved continues to lust for the bike so much that he feels the need to come back.

We see similar attitudes from Lance and Rebbelin who hasn't even bothered with the retirement stage.

Guys should follow the Mercx example. Push yourself to the absolute max in the 15-20 years of your career, then let yourself go.

Agree, or even better, like Hinault...class, class, class...

The 'help Guardini' fools no one; he's admitted he can't let go of the 'emotions' of an athlete. And there he was telling Ricco to forget cycling. Yeah, thanks Grandad.

 

[BeachBum]

I'm of 2 minds about this. I saw him in California in 2008. The best he could do was a 3rd place on one stage, and he unashamedly took pushes from the crowds up the hills. Can he perform valuable leadout work 4 years later? How does he want to be remembered?

On the other hand, in 5 years of watching the ToC, nobody generated the hype of SuperMario-- not Spartacus, the Schlecks, Boonen, Frieire, Lance, Levi, nobody. Women were swooning. It was a circus, the Stones on tour, just crazy.


Lion King outside team bus: http://www.flickr.com/photos/18842924@N03/2295708082/in/photostream/

Cipollini's name painted on KoM summit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/18842924@N03/2295707282/in/photostream


Hitch and Stingray have a point, sometimes you just need to let go. If he still wants to be in front of the cameras, why doesn't he do the same thing for the Giro that Hinault does for le Tour?

 

[skidmark]

ooh boy, this would be awesome to see, but I feel he would end up 'leading him out' into the broom wagon.

 

[Fetisoff]

Sad news imo. That someone like Cipo with all that he achieved continues to lust for the bike so much that he feels the need to come back.

We see similar attitudes from Lance and Rebbelin who hasn't even bothered with the retirement stage.

Guys should follow the Merckx example. Push yourself to the absolute max in the 15-20 years of your career, then let yourself go.

You know, with my brain I understand that you are right (especially watching biathlon and Bjorndallen right now), but my heart still say I want to see Cippo, even if he sucks and doesn't win or do anything of significance.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

you are all wrong

1 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step 5.09.35 (36.125 km/h)
2 Heinrich Haussler (Ger) Gerolsteiner
3 Mario Cipollini (Ita) Rock Racing
4 Mark Cavendish (GBr) High Road
5 Juan Jose Haedo (Arg) Team CSC
6 Tyler Farrar (USA) Slipstream Chipotle Presented by H30
7 Dominique Rollin (Can) Toyota - United Pro Cycling Team
8 Danilo Wyss (Swi) BMC Racing Team
9 Gerald Ciolek (Ger) High Road
10 Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Rabobank

here he was 41 and hadn't raced in 3 years. I remember veyr wlel everyone seeing it as a publicity stunt and giving cipo no chance. riders like ballerini even ridiculed him in the paper but soon had to eat their words. he simply did it for the fun and publicity but showed he was still competitive and he will be again. not in winning sprints but in piloting guardini yes. the guy still trains every day and drops pro's in training. hell I once heard thomas dekker say how he would have trouble keepign cipo's wheel in training while cipo was long retired.