Cipo retires

Effective immediately.
http://www.gazzetta.it/Ciclismo/Prim...ipollini.shtml


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Ewoud Dronkert wrote:
Effective immediately.

He should have antedated it.

Bob Schwartz

Ewoud Dronkert wrote:
Effective immediately.




Dumbass -


****, he retired immediately after his WC win.

thanks,

K. Gringioni.

Effective immediately.

I'm looking forward to shopping in the shoe store he has planned.

"Wayne Grow" writes:

Effective immediately.

I'm looking forward to shopping in the shoe store he has planned.

I hear Sheryl Crow is gonna put in a topless appearance at the Grande Opening

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MyFirstname MyLastName wrote:
"Wayne Grow" writes:


Effective immediately.

I'm looking forward to shopping in the shoe store he has planned.


I hear Sheryl Crow is gonna put in a topless appearance at the Grande Opening

oww my eyes..........

Bob Schwartz wrote:
Ewoud Dronkert wrote:

Effective immediately.


He should have antedated it.

Bob Schwartz


POTM

I really started paying attention to racing in early 2002, which saw il re
leone win San Remo. At that point, most of the press was about the fashion
choice of his 'Zebra train.' Then Cipo won some Giro stages, had a big media
snit about being overlooked again for the tour, threaten to quit, and then
win the World Championships in Zolder. Maybe 'cause I started watching and
reading in what had to be his best year, I took to him and his rolling
caravan.

By Giro 2003, it was becoming clear that he wasn't in the WC form even he'd
hoped for, but I've no doubt that he relishes winning stages #41 & 42. That
alone was reason for continuing into 2003, so I don't understand the folks
that say he should've ended 'on top' at Zolder.

Then I watched him race (okay, labor) in Georgia in '04. I had a chance to
get a photo of him and sign my 4 yr old son's shirt. No disrespect to Lance,
but Cipo was THE star at the Tour de Georgia that year. He was out there
gladhanding folks and all smiles after even the grueling stages and made
time for person after person. I already knew that Cipo was a marketer's
dream, but I never expected such a fine embassador for the sport.

All that's is to cast one more lot into the pile of info most folks already
know: the sport will be lessened by Cipollini's absence. I know I was eager
to see him try and snag at least one more Giro stage away from Ale-jet, let
alone what madness would he bring to the prologue this time around.

Ciao, Cipo i gratzi!

-Kris Garau

On Wed, 27 Apr 2005 09:35:07 GMT, "garau"
wrote:

All that's is to cast one more lot into the pile of info most folks already
know: the sport will be lessened by Cipollini's absence. I know I was eager
to see him try and snag at least one more Giro stage away from Ale-jet, let
alone what madness would he bring to the prologue this time around.

I think he had illusions of it being a two person contest in the
sprints at the Giro, which probably appealed to the dramatic in him.
The pro tour is brining more talent into the Giro sprints and being
one of several trying to chase Ale-jet is no where as dramatic and he
decided to sign off. Losing several sprints to Ale-jet is one
generation making the final hand-off to the next, especially if he did
win one. Being beat by several other sprinters is just losing.

Curtis L. Russell
Odenton, MD (USA)
Just someone on two wheels...

On Wed, 27 Apr 2005 09:35:07 GMT, "garau"
wrote:

I really started paying attention to racing in early 2002, which saw il re
leone win San Remo. At that point, most of the press was about the fashion
choice of his 'Zebra train.' Then Cipo won some Giro stages, had a big media
snit about being overlooked again for the tour, threaten to quit, and then
win the World Championships in Zolder. Maybe 'cause I started watching and
reading in what had to be his best year, I took to him and his rolling
caravan.

By Giro 2003, it was becoming clear that he wasn't in the WC form even he'd
hoped for, but I've no doubt that he relishes winning stages #41 & 42. That
alone was reason for continuing into 2003, so I don't understand the folks
that say he should've ended 'on top' at Zolder.

Then I watched him race (okay, labor) in Georgia in '04. I had a chance to
get a photo of him and sign my 4 yr old son's shirt. No disrespect to Lance,
but Cipo was THE star at the Tour de Georgia that year. He was out there
gladhanding folks and all smiles after even the grueling stages and made
time for person after person. I already knew that Cipo was a marketer's
dream, but I never expected such a fine embassador for the sport.

All that's is to cast one more lot into the pile of info most folks already
know: the sport will be lessened by Cipollini's absence. I know I was eager
to see him try and snag at least one more Giro stage away from Ale-jet, let
alone what madness would he bring to the prologue this time around.

Ciao, Cipo i gratzi!

-Kris Garau

The giro wil really feel cipo's absence this year, like last year with
Pantani. I remember watching the stage on the Mortirolo, and the
pantani fans were out there with banners and posters and flags,
cheering as if he were in the race. It was terribly sad actually, like
he was Banquo's ghost hovering over everything. But I realized that as
far as the fans were concerned, he was not dead.

I think in a lot of ways, Cipo and Pantani really helped the giro
become more popular in recent years, because they were so hugely
popular with the fans, especially since Pantani won the Tour. Fans
seemed to show up just to see them, even when Pantani wasn't doing so
well or Cipo bailed out. I remember Phil and Paul describing how when
Cipo or Pantani got up to sign in, they got the hugest cheers of all.
They did a lot for the giro, in spite of all the other stuff that
happened. But Cipo was a great ambassador, as you said, because his
reputation was pretty clean. I saw the TDG last year and it was
obvious that Cipo was really the center of attention, maybe even more
than Lance, the crowds just loved him.

I am really disappointed that he wont' be in the giro- I was really
looking forward to seeing him do a prologue in another wacky skinsuit!
I guess, all we'll see will be his name painted on the road with big
hearts around it like Pantani last year. "Grazi, Cipo!"