What impact would Ricco have had?

[flicker]

considering tahtw as ricco's 3rd race back after 2 years that is impressive by ricco. pozzivivo was actually in topshape in trentino and sucked in the giro afterwards.

you guys are in for a ****ty 2011 if you dislike ricco

2X4=8 Love to see that math for Rico act 2011.

 

[joe_papp]

and i for one can't wait for him to return to the tour

I'd support his return, too, as long as he can be competitive in the climbing stages, and his team isn't a joke. On the topic of the correctness of letting convicted dopers return to the Tour even if they don't public humiliate themselves and beg to be accepted into the race, Vino provides a great example of why the possibility of racing the Tour should always be extended to reformed dopers. He added so much to the race, not least of all via his Tasmanian-Devil-like attacking persona.

Ricco comes across to many as being a jerk, no doubt (who would trumpet a nickname like "Cobra"...?), but after watching the ridiculous lengths that some riders went to in order to express "respect" for their competitors by basically not racing against them at some critical moments, if Ricco is strong enough to animate the race, then I'd let him return immediately. Maybe he could have done something yesterday to enliven an otherwise dreadfully-boring ascent of the Tourmalet.

Now that I'm firmly in the corner of the cycling "fan" and no longer a rider, I'm becoming more and more aware of the "entertainment" value of the sport. And that's what it should be, first and foremost, and far less so a charm school or morality-and-ethics-teaching-institution.

I think it's legitimate now to ask if the Tour's value as spectacle and - entertainment - is being mistakenly seconded to enforcing, at all costs, arbitrary standards of fair-play. It's hard to see the Tour being any better, at times, than the period of Armstrong's incredibly-boring 7-straight wins. Sure, Ullrich falling off in the final time trial and sliding into the hay along with his Bianchi was a rare moment of drama, but the race was suffocated by the American. Now it seems like it's suffocating under political correctness.

I have a new appreciation for Thor and Carlos Sastre for protesting the group-think that literally stopped the racing at critical moments, and I am re-evaluating the degree to which I celebrate Contador, when he's content to win the Tour without winning a stage and gifted the Tourmalet to Schleck.

LeMond won the Tour in 1990 w/o winning a stage, and I know for a fact that while he was relieved to take Yellow in Paris, there was an element of humiliation at not winning any stages.

In the end, it's about making fair racing (ie, racing in which the influence of doping and cheating in general is marginalized) interesting, exciting and engrossing. Assuming Vino's clean, his stage win (and his ride the previous day) perfectly represent the drama and excitement I'd like to see.

If Ricco can add to that, then bring him back ASAP.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

ricco is also a born heel, as in wrestling. he is so controversial and charismatic. there are tons of story's about him in italian media, one of which is. He once after milano sanremo literally sent plants to riders with a note, saying: here like this plant is stuck in it's earth so are you stuck in the peloton.

he send such notes to pozzato amongs others. he did a lot more crazy stuff which I will try to remember now

 

[El Pistolero]

ricco is also a born heel, as in wrestling. he is so controversial and charismatic. there are tons of story's about him in italian media, one of which is. He once after milano sanremo literally sent plants to riders with a note, saying: here like this plant is stuck in it's earth so are you stuck in the peloton.

he send such notes to pozzato amongs others. he did a lot more crazy stuff which I will try to remember now

I really don't understand all this Ricco loving and Armstrong hate here lol. Especially if what you said is true.

 

[Michielveedeebee]

I don't like ricco at all, absolutely hate the guy in fact... But the way he raced was just so cool and attractive. If he could do that whilst being clean it'd be allright with me; And nothing is more fun than a verbal war

 

[Franklin]

None.

Riccó is great in the mountains, but a step below Andy or Alberto. Even today, in the Giro, he would have a very difficult time beating the likes of Basso or Scarponi.

As far as the Tour goes though... too big of a shoe for such a small foot.

Huge words about someone who had two stage wins in the TdF by being arguably the best climber of the field.

Why is he all of a sudden a poser? He has proven himself as a cyclist. And dope? We all can make an educated guess about how clean the competition is/was.

The underestimating of Ricco is ridiculous. No he won't win a GT, but he will win mountainous stages if he is able to return.

 

[goggalor]

I really don't understand all this Ricco loving and Armstrong hate here lol. Especially if what you said is true.

While Ricco is not very sympa, he is genuinely clever and witty, and the peloton hates him, with tough guys like Cav and Tankink having threatened to punch him. Lance, OTOH, is the Patron, the Don, a pathological liar, a bully and a hypocrite.

 

[mowie133]

I really don't understand all this Ricco loving and Armstrong hate here lol. Especially if what you said is true.

i agree ricco cheating (dopeing) set cycling back a step in terms of the media an the non racing public,
will the tour de france even let him come back???
it is funny,armstrong a well respected guy by most! rasies so much cash for cancer..then ricco, a cheat that everyone dislikes lol

 

[Ryaguas]

.......

Thx you Joe!!!!!! Very well said! I'm pretty sure that a lot of ppl thinks exactly the same...!

I don't like ricco at all, absolutely hate the guy in fact... But the way he raced was just so cool and attractive. If he could do that whilst being clean it'd be allright with me; And nothing is more fun than a verbal war

That's exactly what I want that ppl understand... We know that he is not going to win a GT but he would spice Le Tour a lot!!!! and that is what Le tour needs...!

While Ricco is not very sympa, he is genuinely clever and witty, and the peloton hates him, with tough guys like Cav and Tankink having threatened to punch him.

Excellent thoughts! and I think that could be happening in the next years if the organization allow Riccó to comeback to La Grande Boucle...

Hey now I want to add another person to the table...

What about Kashechkin for La Grande Boucle 2011???

We already know that he signed with Lampre so... is pretty sure that he will be in La Vuelta and for the next TdF... Just Imagine Riccó and Kashechkin for the next year...!!!!! OMFG!

 

[SpartacusRox]

Is kind of funny how the ppl start calling Riccó...

Don't worry guys He will be here next year... maybe with Lampre if Il Principe goes to Sky or Garmin but is sure that He will be here... Andy couldn't drop El Pistolero so the solution is to bring the only one active who has been able to drop him and that person is Riccó...

Would be great having AC, Andy and Riccó next year, since Riccó and AC are not friends and Riccó is still mad at AC for what happened in Il Giro 08...

so Riccó move and hurry to sing with a PT team!

Yeah whatever. he dropped Contador after Bertie had been sunning himself on the beach for two weeks and he still managed to win the race. Berite in TdF form would send him home to his mama.

Riding clean the Cobra will look more like the worm he really is.