Mario is done

Davide Tosi

This morning, after finishing 2nd to last in yesterday stage and after two
nights without sleeping, Domina Vacanze's doctor decided that it was time
for Cipo to retire from this Giro.
This is the first time that the Tuscan sprinter ends a Giro he entered
without winning at least one stage.

Personally, I also think that this was the last time we saw SuperMario in
the pink race. What happened in the last year showed that he's competitive
with the likes of Petacchi and McEwen anymore and his pride is just to big
to let him race for runner-up places. I wouldn't be surprised if the next
TdF will be announced as his last race as a pro, a sort of Goodbye Tour.

Davey Crockett

davide.tosi@comune.re.it (Davide Tosi) writes:

> This morning, after finishing 2nd to last in yesterday stage and after two
> nights without sleeping, Domina Vacanze's doctor decided that it was time
> for Cipo to retire from this Giro.
> This is the first time that the Tuscan sprinter ends a Giro he entered
> without winning at least one stage.
>
> Personally, I also think that this was the last time we saw SuperMario in
> the pink race. What happened in the last year showed that he's competitive
> with the likes of Petacchi and McEwen anymore and his pride is just to big
> to let him race for runner-up places. I wouldn't be surprised if the next
> TdF will be announced as his last race as a pro, a sort of Goodbye Tour.
>
davide.tosi@comune.re.it (Davide Tosi) writes:

> This morning, after finishing 2nd to last in yesterday stage and after two
> nights without sleeping, Domina Vacanze's doctor decided that it was time
> for Cipo to retire from this Giro.
> This is the first time that the Tuscan sprinter ends a Giro he entered
> without winning at least one stage.
>
> Personally, I also think that this was the last time we saw SuperMario in
> the pink race. What happened in the last year showed that he's competitive
> with the likes of Petacchi and McEwen anymore and his pride is just to big
> to let him race for runner-up places. I wouldn't be surprised if the next
> TdF will be announced as his last race as a pro, a sort of Goodbye Tour.
>

Too bad really. Unfortunately every career has to come to an end and I personally thought that Cipollini was pushing it a little too far when he decided to race this year. I just wondered if he didn't still have some Olympic ambitions?

But as far as racers go, for my money he was the most entertaining rider for the last several years. I mean anyone can win Sprints, Stages and Grands Tours. Check the race-results. There isn't a single race that didn't have a winner.

But do the winners have class and style? That's a totally different matter. Petacchi, Armstrong? Shoot, I'd trade 50 Petacchis or Armstrongs any day for one real bike racer with class like Cipollini.

--
le Vent a Dos
Davey Crockett
Six-Day site: http://members.rogers.com/sixday/sixday.html

B. Lafferty

"Davey Crockett" <Davey_Crockett@rogers.com> wrote in message
news:873c62ngec.fsf@cpe004023176ea9-cm0f2069983361.cpe.net.cable.rogers.com...
> davide.tosi@comune.re.it (Davide Tosi) writes:
>
> > This morning, after finishing 2nd to last in yesterday stage and after
two
> > nights without sleeping, Domina Vacanze's doctor decided that it was
time
> > for Cipo to retire from this Giro.
> > This is the first time that the Tuscan sprinter ends a Giro he entered
> > without winning at least one stage.
> >
> > Personally, I also think that this was the last time we saw SuperMario
in
> > the pink race. What happened in the last year showed that he's
competitive
> > with the likes of Petacchi and McEwen anymore and his pride is just to
big
> > to let him race for runner-up places. I wouldn't be surprised if the
next
> > TdF will be announced as his last race as a pro, a sort of Goodbye Tour.
> >
> davide.tosi@comune.re.it (Davide Tosi) writes:
>
> > This morning, after finishing 2nd to last in yesterday stage and after
two
> > nights without sleeping, Domina Vacanze's doctor decided that it was
time
> > for Cipo to retire from this Giro.
> > This is the first time that the Tuscan sprinter ends a Giro he entered
> > without winning at least one stage.
> >
> > Personally, I also think that this was the last time we saw SuperMario
in
> > the pink race. What happened in the last year showed that he's
competitive
> > with the likes of Petacchi and McEwen anymore and his pride is just to
big
> > to let him race for runner-up places. I wouldn't be surprised if the
next
> > TdF will be announced as his last race as a pro, a sort of Goodbye Tour.
> >
>
> Too bad really. Unfortunately every career has to come to an end and I
personally thought that Cipollini was pushing it a little too far when he
decided to race this year. I just wondered if he didn't still have some
Olympic ambitions?
>
> But as far as racers go, for my money he was the most entertaining rider
for the last several years. I mean anyone can win Sprints, Stages and Grands
Tours. Check the race-results. There isn't a single race that didn't have a
winner.
>
> But do the winners have class and style? That's a totally different
matter. Petacchi, Armstrong? Shoot, I'd trade 50 Petacchis or Armstrongs any
day for one real bike racer with class like Cipollini.

He has definitly added a great deal of pleasure to the sport and will be
missed when the retirement is official. I hope he simply retires rather
than suffer more at the hands of the sprinters at the TdF, which will
include Boonen who says Petacchi doesn't phase him at all. Age catches up
with everyone.

Callistus Valerius

Age catches up
> with everyone.
>

Have you considered the bike he's forced to ride. Maybe a different
bike..........

B. Lafferty

"Callistus Valerius" <jazzyboss@hotmail.com> wrote in message
newsTmpc.1212$SZ4.767@newsread2.news.pas.earthlink.net...
> Age catches up
> > with everyone.
> >
>
> Have you considered the bike he's forced to ride. Maybe a different
> bike..........

Well, he did say during a stage of the Giro on OLN, "Cannondale. The besta
bike, eh."

Steven L. Sheffield

On 05/15/2004 05:51 AM, in article
avnpc.10503$KE6.6853@newsread3.news.atl.earthlink.net, "B. Lafferty"
<Magni@Italia.com> wrote:

>
> "Callistus Valerius" <jazzyboss@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> newsTmpc.1212$SZ4.767@newsread2.news.pas.earthlink.net...
>> Age catches up
>>> with everyone.
>>>
>>
>> Have you considered the bike he's forced to ride. Maybe a different
>> bike..........
>
> Well, he did say during a stage of the Giro on OLN, "Cannondale. The besta
> bike, eh."




It was the Tour, on ESPN ... In 1997.



--
Steven L. Sheffield
stevens at veloworks dot com
veloworks at worldnet dot ay tea tee dot net
bellum pax est libertas servitus est ignoratio vis est
ess ay ell tea ell ay kay ee sea aye tee why you ti ay aitch
aitch tee tea pea colon [for word] slash [four ward] slash double-you
double-yew double-ewe dot veloworks dot com [four word] slash

Marlene Blanshay

"Davide Tosi" <davide.tosi@comune.re.it> wrote in message
news:40a6d1e1.67608806@news.individual.de...
> This morning, after finishing 2nd to last in yesterday stage and after two
> nights without sleeping, Domina Vacanze's doctor decided that it was time
> for Cipo to retire from this Giro.
> This is the first time that the Tuscan sprinter ends a Giro he entered
> without winning at least one stage.
>
> Personally, I also think that this was the last time we saw SuperMario in
> the pink race. What happened in the last year showed that he's competitive
> with the likes of Petacchi and McEwen anymore and his pride is just to big
> to let him race for runner-up places. I wouldn't be surprised if the next
> TdF will be announced as his last race as a pro, a sort of Goodbye Tour.
>
What a downer, I really thought he'd try and tough it out but obviously he
was miserable. He must have been in a lot of pain, and it's not like you can
take Darvocet or anything. He never would have given up if he thought he was
capable of continuing. Yes, it'll probably be his last giro which makes it
even sadder- not the exit he had planned I am sure. And he hoped to win a
stage and dedicate it to his friend pantani. Maybe someone else will do
that, who knows.

Davey Crockett

"B. Lafferty" <Magni@Italia.com> writes:

> He has definitly added a great deal of pleasure to the sport and will be
> missed when the retirement is official. I hope he simply retires rather
> than suffer more at the hands of the sprinters at the TdF, which will
> include Boonen who says Petacchi doesn't phase him at all. Age catches up
> with everyone.
>

Yes, I would think that he should retire at the end of the year at the latest.

Kelly, I think stayed a little too long and after a superb win in Sanremo in 1992 disappointed badly in 1993 and 1994.

Jalabert I thought was going to hang around but he wisely decided to go whilst the writing on the wall was still barely legible

--
le Vent a Dos
Davey Crockett
Six-Day site: http://members.rogers.com/sixday/sixday.html

Sonarrat

"B. Lafferty" <Magni@Italia.com> wrote in message news:<Wjmpc.10358$KE6.2054@newsread3.news.atl.earthlink.net>...
> "Davey Crockett" <Davey_Crockett@rogers.com> wrote in message
> news:873c62ngec.fsf@cpe004023176ea9-cm0f2069983361.cpe.net.cable.rogers.com...
> > davide.tosi@comune.re.it (Davide Tosi) writes:
> >
> > > This morning, after finishing 2nd to last in yesterday stage and after
> two
> > > nights without sleeping, Domina Vacanze's doctor decided that it was
> time
> > > for Cipo to retire from this Giro.
> > > This is the first time that the Tuscan sprinter ends a Giro he entered
> > > without winning at least one stage.
> > >
> > > Personally, I also think that this was the last time we saw SuperMario
> in
> > > the pink race. What happened in the last year showed that he's
> competitive
> > > with the likes of Petacchi and McEwen anymore and his pride is just to
> big
> > > to let him race for runner-up places. I wouldn't be surprised if the
> next
> > > TdF will be announced as his last race as a pro, a sort of Goodbye Tour.
> > >
> > davide.tosi@comune.re.it (Davide Tosi) writes:
> >
> > > This morning, after finishing 2nd to last in yesterday stage and after
> two
> > > nights without sleeping, Domina Vacanze's doctor decided that it was
> time
> > > for Cipo to retire from this Giro.
> > > This is the first time that the Tuscan sprinter ends a Giro he entered
> > > without winning at least one stage.
> > >
> > > Personally, I also think that this was the last time we saw SuperMario
> in
> > > the pink race. What happened in the last year showed that he's
> competitive
> > > with the likes of Petacchi and McEwen anymore and his pride is just to
> big
> > > to let him race for runner-up places. I wouldn't be surprised if the
> next
> > > TdF will be announced as his last race as a pro, a sort of Goodbye Tour.
> > >
> >
> > Too bad really. Unfortunately every career has to come to an end and I
> personally thought that Cipollini was pushing it a little too far when he
> decided to race this year. I just wondered if he didn't still have some
> Olympic ambitions?
> >
> > But as far as racers go, for my money he was the most entertaining rider
> for the last several years. I mean anyone can win Sprints, Stages and Grands
> Tours. Check the race-results. There isn't a single race that didn't have a
> winner.
> >
> > But do the winners have class and style? That's a totally different
> matter. Petacchi, Armstrong? Shoot, I'd trade 50 Petacchis or Armstrongs any
> day for one real bike racer with class like Cipollini.
>
> He has definitly added a great deal of pleasure to the sport and will be
> missed when the retirement is official. I hope he simply retires rather
> than suffer more at the hands of the sprinters at the TdF, which will
> include Boonen who says Petacchi doesn't phase him at all. Age catches up
> with everyone.

I have no doubt that Cipo will take the start of the Tour de France -
he has too much respect for tradition and too strong of a
commemorative sense to sit out. And after this development in the
Giro, he will be forgiven for not finishing...

Even if he doesn't get to set off fireworks, though, Michele Scarponi
probably will as a major outside contender for GC...

-Sonarrat.

Faster Bordello

Sonarrat wrote:
> "B. Lafferty" <Magni@Italia.com> wrote in message news:<Wjmpc.10358$KE6.2054@newsread3.news.atl.earthlink.net>...
>
>>"Davey Crockett" <Davey_Crockett@rogers.com> wrote in message
>>news:873c62ngec.fsf@cpe004023176ea9-cm0f2069983361.cpe.net.cable.rogers.com...
>>
>>>davide.tosi@comune.re.it (Davide Tosi) writes:
>>>
>>>
>>>>This morning, after finishing 2nd to last in yesterday stage and after
>>
>> two
>>
>>>>nights without sleeping, Domina Vacanze's doctor decided that it was
>>
>> time
>>
>>>>for Cipo to retire from this Giro.
>>>>This is the first time that the Tuscan sprinter ends a Giro he entered
>>>>without winning at least one stage.
>>>>
>>>>Personally, I also think that this was the last time we saw SuperMario
>>
>> in
>>
>>>>the pink race. What happened in the last year showed that he's
>>
>> competitive
>>
>>>>with the likes of Petacchi and McEwen anymore and his pride is just to
>>
>> big
>>
>>>>to let him race for runner-up places. I wouldn't be surprised if the
>>
>> next
>>
>>>>TdF will be announced as his last race as a pro, a sort of Goodbye Tour.
>>>>
>>>
>>>davide.tosi@comune.re.it (Davide Tosi) writes:
>>>
>>>
>>>>This morning, after finishing 2nd to last in yesterday stage and after
>>
>> two
>>
>>>>nights without sleeping, Domina Vacanze's doctor decided that it was
>>
>> time
>>
>>>>for Cipo to retire from this Giro.
>>>>This is the first time that the Tuscan sprinter ends a Giro he entered
>>>>without winning at least one stage.
>>>>
>>>>Personally, I also think that this was the last time we saw SuperMario
>>
>> in
>>
>>>>the pink race. What happened in the last year showed that he's
>>
>> competitive
>>
>>>>with the likes of Petacchi and McEwen anymore and his pride is just to
>>
>> big
>>
>>>>to let him race for runner-up places. I wouldn't be surprised if the
>>
>> next
>>
>>>>TdF will be announced as his last race as a pro, a sort of Goodbye Tour.
>>>>
>>>
>>>Too bad really. Unfortunately every career has to come to an end and I
>>
>>personally thought that Cipollini was pushing it a little too far when he
>>decided to race this year. I just wondered if he didn't still have some
>>Olympic ambitions?
>>
>>>But as far as racers go, for my money he was the most entertaining rider
>>
>>for the last several years. I mean anyone can win Sprints, Stages and Grands
>>Tours. Check the race-results. There isn't a single race that didn't have a
>>winner.
>>
>>>But do the winners have class and style? That's a totally different
>>
>>matter. Petacchi, Armstrong? Shoot, I'd trade 50 Petacchis or Armstrongs any
>>day for one real bike racer with class like Cipollini.
>>
>>He has definitly added a great deal of pleasure to the sport and will be
>>missed when the retirement is official. I hope he simply retires rather
>>than suffer more at the hands of the sprinters at the TdF, which will
>>include Boonen who says Petacchi doesn't phase him at all. Age catches up
>>with everyone.
>
>
> I have no doubt that Cipo will take the start of the Tour de France -
> he has too much respect for tradition and too strong of a
> commemorative sense to sit out. And after this development in the
> Giro, he will be forgiven for not finishing...
>
> Even if he doesn't get to set off fireworks, though, Michele Scarponi
> probably will as a major outside contender for GC...
>
> -Sonarrat.
Scarponi? Where at the Giro (he's not.. over in Spain at the Peace
Race..) or at Le Toor? Where yes I believe he can contend in the top
20, for sure at La Vuelta.

Sonarrat

"Faster Bordello" <Fast@Bordello.com> wrote in message
news:c85q88$cm7$1@terabinaries.xmission.com...
> Sonarrat wrote:

> > I have no doubt that Cipo will take the start of the Tour de France -
> > he has too much respect for tradition and too strong of a
> > commemorative sense to sit out. And after this development in the
> > Giro, he will be forgiven for not finishing...
> >
> > Even if he doesn't get to set off fireworks, though, Michele Scarponi
> > probably will as a major outside contender for GC...

> Scarponi? Where at the Giro (he's not.. over in Spain at the Peace
> Race..)

Peace Race = Czech... and yes, he has all but won it with one flat stage to go.

> or at Le Toor? Where yes I believe he can contend in the top
> 20, for sure at La Vuelta.

Not this Giro, obviously, though he placed higher in it last year than he did in
the Vuelta. I'm certain that he's primed for the TdF, and he ought to make
things very interesting...

-Sonarrat.

Mapei81

I will miss Mario a lot. I was lucky enough to be hanging around in a group of
riders before the start of the Tour one year, including Mario. He seemed like
a good guy, well-liked by the others. And his sensitivity to Pantani's death
was impressive.

>Jalabert I thought was going to hang around but he wisely decided to go
>whilst the writing on the wall was still barely legible

I don't think that's fair to JaJa. I thought he was going to hang on too long
as well, but that was before he went with Riis and CSC. IIRC, he won San
Sebastian and the polka-dot jersey in his last season - that's hardly evidence
that he was done.

Having said that, I'm glad he went out while he was still a winner. I wish
Lemond had done the same.

Sonarrat

"Steven L. Sheffield" <stevens@veloworks.com> wrote in message
news:BCCB91E0.312E1%stevens@veloworks.com...
> On 05/15/2004 05:51 AM, in article
> avnpc.10503$KE6.6853@newsread3.news.atl.earthlink.net, "B. Lafferty"
> <Magni@Italia.com> wrote:
>
> >
> > "Callistus Valerius" <jazzyboss@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> > newsTmpc.1212$SZ4.767@newsread2.news.pas.earthlink.net...
> >> Age catches up
> >>> with everyone.
> >>>
> >>
> >> Have you considered the bike he's forced to ride. Maybe a different
> >> bike..........
> >
> > Well, he did say during a stage of the Giro on OLN, "Cannondale. The besta
> > bike, eh."
>
> It was the Tour, on ESPN ... In 1997.

And now, of course, he rides a Specialized, made in Morgan Hill, California...
my hometown, and don't think for a second I'm not proud of that. And as far as
I can tell, Cipo is very happy with his S-Works...

-Sonarrat.

B. Lafferty

"Sonarrat" <sonarrat@postmark.fishn..> wrote in message
news:10ad4glsr1l7ed2@corp.supernews.com...
>
> "Steven L. Sheffield" <stevens@veloworks.com> wrote in message
> news:BCCB91E0.312E1%stevens@veloworks.com...
> > On 05/15/2004 05:51 AM, in article
> > avnpc.10503$KE6.6853@newsread3.news.atl.earthlink.net, "B. Lafferty"
> > <Magni@Italia.com> wrote:
> >
> > >
> > > "Callistus Valerius" <jazzyboss@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> > > newsTmpc.1212$SZ4.767@newsread2.news.pas.earthlink.net...
> > >> Age catches up
> > >>> with everyone.
> > >>>
> > >>
> > >> Have you considered the bike he's forced to ride. Maybe a
different
> > >> bike..........
> > >
> > > Well, he did say during a stage of the Giro on OLN, "Cannondale. The
besta
> > > bike, eh."
> >
> > It was the Tour, on ESPN ... In 1997.
>
> And now, of course, he rides a Specialized, made in Morgan Hill,
California...
> my hometown, and don't think for a second I'm not proud of that. And as
far as
> I can tell, Cipo is very happy with his S-Works...
>
> -Sonarrat.

I really have to chuckle over riders commenting on the bikes they ride.
They pretty much ride what the sponsor gives them these days with some
exceptions. The only riders I can think of who spoke openly about bikes
were Robert Miller in the issue of CycleSport he edited a few years ago (a
classic) and Museeuw who had not nice things to say about Ernesto Colnago.