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29 April 2005

29 April News ...

Mario Cipollini Retires

The End of an Era

by The Dust Devil of BiciRace.com

Tuesday saw Mario Cipollini’s 17-year career come to a close. Cycling fans around the world are expressing sadness as they witness the exit of the famous Lion King. Loved by millions, and dismissed as a showboat by just as many, Cipollini is truly one of the greatest champions of our generation. But whether you love him or not, you can’t deny the impact “Cipo” has had on the sport of professional cycling. Visionaries are typically misunderstood and their talent disregarded, and that was largely true for Cipollini. But, with 189 career victories, even if you don’t share his fashion sense, facts are facts and he is the most prolific rider in terms of victories since Sean Kelly.

What made Cipo so unusual and compelling? Cipollini opened his account with Giro d’Italia victories in 1989. He would go on to win a staggering 42 stages of the Giro, surpassing Alfredo Binda’s 70-year old record. Other big moments in Cipo's career were back to back victories in Gent-Wevelgem in ’92 and ’93. He added to his Gent-Wevelgem victories in 2002, when he won his only race which didn't finish in a bunch sprint. He instead bridged the gap to a breakaway (in a head wind no-less!!) to win a small group sprint.

Cipollini realized his life-long dream in 2002 of collecting victory on the Via Roma in Milan-San Remo. Then, of course there was his incredible finish in the sprint-royale of the 2002 World Championships that brought him the rainbow jersey. The lead up to that finish could possibly be the single most exciting bunch sprint ever to be witnessed! With a full complement of the squadra azurri lined up in the final sprint, the team brought their man to the line as only a Cipollini lead out train can! What a site!

He was often criticized by the nay-sayers for not getting over the big mountains. True, he never made it to Paris. But, he knows his talents. He got paid to win races and get publicity for his sponsors. His career was able to last as long as it did, and was as prolific as it was, because he didn't waste himself on efforts that would be fruitless. He’s was as pure a sprinter, as a pure sprinter ever was.

A well drilled sprint lead out train is a truly an act of beauty. And that is thanks to Mario. With his GB-MG squad of the early 1990s and then the Mercatone Uno-Saeco team of the mid-90s, he helped to develop the concept of the lead out train. If Cipo felt like he could win, he’d send his boys to the front to bring the race back together in the final 30K. Each man taking position and knowing his place in the line, would then peel off at precisely the right moment when his job done. The train acted as a tool, tightening the screw to discourage breakaways and delivering Big Mario to the line!

He wore his first Maillot Jaune in the 1993 Tour de France, and collected 12 Tour stage victories throughout his career. The beginning of the 1997 Tour saw a Cipollini who was clearly on song, taking the first stage in his now famous Stars and Stripes shorts, which he traded for his all yellow kit, with matching bike included. Something which is standard issue nowadays for race leaders and national champions, we can perhaps thank Cipollini for being the catalyst for the trend. Even Lance Armstrong has worn an all yellow skinsuit in the 2000 Tour when he was race leader!

Along with Pantani, Cipo is the last of the pros who could truly capture the imagination. Who can forget seeing him clad from head to toe in an all pink racing strip to match his Maglia Rosa! Phil Liggett said it best, ”He really is a fashion expert”. Seeing his antics during races, showing up with his sometimes crazy get-ups, girly pictures on his stem, dressed as Cesar, wearing a beach hat, his muscle skin-suit; always smiling. Clearly he is a happy guy and was the best at doing what he loved. He brought a lot of his personality to the peloton, and the peloton respected him.

Shortly after coming out of his short-lived retirement in 2002, when he started to train again setting his cites on the World's, Cipollini said, "I have rediscovered my desire to ride, and the pleasure of working on the bike for a big objective. When I started to race, I was told 'the bicycle has a soul, if you succeed to love it, it will give you emotions that you will never forget'. I was young then and I did not understand what those words meant, but in time I did, because I want that message to be broadcast strongly to all the boys who intend on taking up this sport." Cipollini, capturing the essence of why he is such a unique and amazing individual that the world of cycling will never see again, perfectly sums up why we all love this sport.

Mario Cipollini Facts
Born: 22 March 1967 in Lucca, Italy
Heigt: 1.90 m
Weight: 76 kg
Married: Wife Sabrina (2 children)
Teams: Del Tongo (1989-1991), GB-MG (1992-1993), Mercatone Uno (1994-1995), Saeco (1996-2001), Acqua & Sapone (2002), Domina Vacanze (2003/2004), Liquigas-Bianchi (2005)

Highlights:
- World Champion 2002
- Milan-San Remo winner 2002
- Gent-Wevelgem 1992, 1993 and 2002
- GP l´Escaut 1991 and 1993
- GP E3 1993
- Trophäe Luis-Puig 1999
- Syrakus-Tour 2001
- Tour de France: 12 stage wins, 6 days in yellow jersey
- Giro d'Italia: 42 stage wins, 3 points jerseys, 6 days in pink jersey
- Vuelta a Espana: 3 stage wins (2002)
- 8 stage wins in Paris-Nice
- 12 stage wins in Tour de Romandie

29 April News ...