Blog Posts From Active Expert: Bruce Hildenbrand Tagged With mario-cipollini

AToC Likes and Dislikes

Bruce Hildenbrand — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 06:06:00 GMT

The 3rd annual Amgen Tour of California is in the books. The people from

Amgen were conspicuously absent from the race, but reports are that they are

happy and looking to continue sponsorship. Let's hope so. Here are some

random thoughts about the race.

Things I liked:

All the aggressive riding. It was full-on from day one first with the BMC Team

sending guys up the road on stages 1 and 2 and then with attacks by the likes

of George Hincapie, Robert Gesink, Dominique Rollin, that Hincapie guy again,

Michael Creed, Tom Zirbel, that Hincapie guy again, etc, etc.

The non-Pro Tour teams showing themselves in front of their bigger brothers.

These lesser weights (in UCI classification only?) didn't just hide out at the

back of the pack waiting for another beating, they raced side-by-side to the

finish.

Podium girls. Hats off to Michael Ball and Rock Racing for bringing some

much-needed feminine touches to the main stage.

Mount Hamilton. This bump helped create one of the most selective finishes

in the history of the AToC. When combined with Sierra Road this made for a

very exciting stage.

Mario Cipollini. Cipo is in his second career as a bike racer and has admitted

that he is playing with house money. But, ride he did and he was in there when

he needed to be. Bravo!

Levi's time trial ride. Guys like David Millar, Christian Vandevelde, Tom

Zirbel and Ben Jacques-Maynes rode extremely well in Solvang, but Leipheimer

delivered the knock-out punch to anyone else's hopes to win the AToC. Yeah,

he was expected to do well, but not that well. It was a drubbing.

Things I didn't like:

The AToC organizers bumping three riders from Rock Racing from starting. I

have still not seen the supposed letter from the UCI stating that there are

active doping investigations on Santiago, Oscar and Tyler. Anybody else seen

any news on the alleged open doping investigations?

Mother Nature. Maybe it was payback for kicking out the three Rock Racing

riders, but why penalize all the other racers and spectators with so much

rain? I was starting to gather a few animals, two-by-two.

Media parking. Hey, I am a journalist. I am doing a job at the AToC. Please

give me a place to park my car and don't trap me in some parking garage with

one attendant to take cash so I have to spend an hour waiting in line to leave

after the race.

Technical manual. Is it so hard to put a graphic showing the press room on

the map of the finish area?

Bruce

AToC Team Presentation Off the Hook

Bruce Hildenbrand — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 14:18:46 GMT

The official team presentation for the 3rd annual Amgen Tour of California

(AToC) took place Friday night in Sausalito. The super-swank, black-tie,

$250/person affair saw Phil Liggett, Paul Sherwen and Bob Roll doing the

call-up and Q&A for each of the 17 teams while yours truly hosted the always

entertaining fashion show. What a way to kick off America's best bike race.

There were two surprise guests, both of whom created a buzz of excitement as

they came up on stage. To close out the fashion show, cycling aficionado,

Oscar winner and all around funny guy Robin Williams took the stage doing a

very risque cat-walk to the sounds of James Brown's tune "Sex Machine".

Selecting a James Brown song was appropriate for the entertainer many feel has

inherited the legendary blues singer's moniker as the hardest working man in

show business.

Robin's schtick brought the house down. Look for some clips on the Versus

telecast of the Amgen Tour of California on Sunday.

Just as the evening was wrapping up, Michael Ball and his Rock Racing team

took the stage for their team presentation and when a legendary tall, blond Italian

walked up on the platform, it was an exciting confirmation that 'il Leone',

Super Mario Cipollini was indeed going to be a part of the AToC. While his

exact role on the team has not yet been determined, look for Mario to be at

the start line, ready to go for Sunday's prologue. Tyler Hamilton and Oscar

Sevilla will be there as well.

Did you all know that Tom Boonen used to play basketball before he became one

of the most successful and most recognizable stars in cycling? During the

silent auction, I turned Tom onto a great photo of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird

guarding each other which looked more like a wrestling match. Tom bought it

on the spot, doubling the current bid!

Actually, there are two many great moments to put in this blog. Suffice it to

say that the AToC got started in grand style and looks to be creating some

unforgettable memories for all who will attend America's premier bike race.

The fuse is lit!

Bruce

Cipo????

Bruce E Hildenbrand — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 05:27:43 GMT

It appears the news that Italian super sprinter Mario Cipollini has signed with Rock Racing were a bit premature. That doesn't mean that Cipo is heading back to the land of fine wine and pasta for good. It just means that the negotiations aren't over. Where's Donald Trump when you need him? Personally, I hope Mario signs and has a presence in the US. I am sure The Donald would allow him to be a judge at his Miss America pageant.

In light of being in limbo over Super Mario's future, I thought I would recount my most favorite story about the flamboyant Italian. In 2002, I was covering the spring classic in Northern France and Belgium for Cycle Sport Magazine. It was a blast. If you have never been to the classics, you should go and don't forget to bring your bike and some warm and waterproof clothing.

Anyway, the Tour of Flanders ranks just behind Paris-Roubaix in prestige and some consider it even more difficult. This is the event to win if you are Belgian. The great Belgian cyclist Peter Van Petegem once told me that after he won the Tour of Flanders he never had to worry about getting a speeding ticket (and boy did he love to drive his Volvo 760 fast). When he would get pulled over the cops would recognize him and just let him go. Unfortunately, Belgium is implementing a lot of photo radar and Van Petegem mused that his lead-footed days were soon to be over.

Hey, but this is about Mario and here's the story. The Tour of Flanders is around 165-miles long and has about 20 named short climbs most of which are cobbled and reach grades of up to 23%. In 2002, Cipollini, who is nota noted climber and seems to disappear on all but the flattest of courses, was leading the UCI World Cup, the precursor to the current Pro Tour. As such he felt a need to defend his leader's jersey and rode exceptionally strongly to win the field sprint and finish 9th overall.

As Cipo crossed the line, a female TV reporter approached him and asked, "Do you want a massage?" Now you have to remember that Mario had just ridden 165 of the hardest miles there are in pro cycling, something that would have left lesser men near collapse. But not Cipo. He looked straight at the reporter and asked, "Are we talking a therapeutic massage or a sexual massage?" The reporter answered, "a therapeutic massage." Mario responded, "a therapeutic massage? No, not a therapeutic massage."

Man, we need this dude back in cycling!

Bruce

ps - anyone got a favorite Cipo story? Let's hear them.

Cipo!!!!!

Bruce E Hildenbrand — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 07:00:10 GMT

After months of rumours and speculation, it appears that Italian sprinter

Mario Cipollini has signed onto the Rock Racing team as rider/manager for

2008. Whoa! What "Super Mario's" role will be with the team is yet

undetermined, but one thing is for sure, the US domestic professional racing

scene just got a whole lot more interesting.

The 2002 World Champion can certainly pedal a bike and even at the age of 40,

he will shortly turn 41, he will undoubtedly be capable of winning races in

America. But, more importantly, he is a showman. A rider of "rock star"

quality who brings charisma and presence just by showing up. From his

outrageous cycling attire to the time he left the Tour of Spain prematurely so

he could be a judge at the Miss Italy competition this guys makes headlines

both on and off the bike.

Does the US domestic scene need "il Leone" as Cipo is known to his Italian

tifosi? With all the doping scandals running rampant through the cycling

community Mario just could be the breath of fresh air to get people's minds

thinking the glass is half full and not half empty. We need to be reminded

of why cycling is such a great sport, not only in which to participate, but

also to watch.

Mario's wins in both the Giro, where he holds the all-time record for stage

victories, and the Tour de France are things of beauty, executed with style

and perfection. One question that still lingers is if the Rock Racing team

can assemble an effective leadout train with which to deliver the flamboyant

Italian to the line. My guess is with a marquee name like Cipollini on your

squad, you go get support for the kick to the finish.

Cipo's signing fills a couple of roles for Rock Racing. The team is in dire

need of a director sportif after the recent departure of Frankie Andreu. Also,

with the parity among the US domestic pro teams having a bunch sprinter is

almost mandatory if you want to win races. Unfortunately, Cipo's lack of

knowledge of the US race courses, the only race he has ridden in America is the

Tour of Georgia, may provide a steep learning curve if he is called on to lead

the squad from the team car. At 40, his best days are probably behind him

which means that he will most likely not be a candidate to ride the more

difficult stage races or hilly one-day events.

My guess is that we will see Cipo at the upcoming Tour of California behind the

wheel of a Rock Racing vehicle and not in the saddle. Given the rumours of how

he drives around Italy, even that scenario is sure to give race fans, and race

officials, something to talk about. Benvenuto in America Mario!

Bruce

ps - what do you all out there think about Mario coming to America?