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Active Expert: Bruce Hildenbrand

2 Posts tagged with the super-mario tag
Bruce E Hildenbrand

Cipo????

Posted by Bruce E Hildenbrand Jan 19, 2008

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.

1,051 Views 0 Comments Permalink Tags: bruce-hildenbrand, bruce_hildenbrand, mario-cipollini, super-mario, rock-racing, tour-of-flanders
Bruce E Hildenbrand

Cipo!!!!!

Posted by Bruce E Hildenbrand Jan 18, 2008

 

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?

 

 

1,154 Views 1 Comments Permalink Tags: bruce-hildenbrand, bruce_hildenbrand, mario-cipollini, super-mario, tour-of-california, rock-racing


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