Happy 51st Birthday Mario Cipollini

[Tony T]

Rouleur:
"At the départ I showed up with my own Cleopatra, who was a stripper. I was the first to say “If I wasn’t a rider, I’d be a porn star,” the first to make a mobile phone call during the race, the first to have a picture of Pamela Anderson on his stem, the first to ride in the Papal colours in Rome [at the Giro d’Italia], as a tiger in Holland, baroque in Genoa. All my ideas, silly but fun."
Happy 51st Birthday Mario Cipollini

[weisan]

http://sanctumcycle.com/images/cipollini.jpg

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTZPeRij7hj4SM9-e8RkY_rvc_R_qGc9YDhk-ripj9-V-XUQOUCcA

https://media.gettyimages.com/photos/italian-cyclist-mario-cipollini-with-his-family-circa-1999-picture-id630941054

[MattTuck]

In the context of Cipo, Sagan seems pretty tame.

[weisan]

In the context of Cipo, Sagan seems pretty tame.

You got that right!

http://pbs.twimg.com/media/C7iDIv_W4AETzs0.jpg:small

[pdmtong]

The one year he raced the AToC he came into our LBS. I just missed him by half an hour. I heard from folks who were there it was a pretty fun time. Quite a character for sure.

[FlashUNC]

Cipo is god.

[fiamme red]

In the context of Cipo, Sagan seems pretty tame.Cipollini was wild in his antics, but I found his method of winning sprints using his lead-out train rather boring and predictable. Sagan has various unpredictable ways of winning sprints.

[cnighbor1]

Road Bike Mag current issue has a nice ride up on his CF bike $15,000.01

[Tony T]

Cipo is god.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_yFeC-Omt3c8/SLxe3P8AggI/AAAAAAAAAmY/no54W24iXIc/s400/cipo-caesar.jpg

[Tony T]

This is an edited extract from Rouleur 62:
Mario Cipollini: “Real sprinters are like heavyweight boxers” (https://rouleur.cc/editorial/mario-cipollini/)

[RonW87]

There's a guy located north of Toronto who used to distributed Cipollini brand bicycles. At one point a few years ago he mentioned that Mario would be stopping in Toronto (perhaps on his way to Interbike?). I thought "that's interesting" but didn't think about it again. A few weeks later I'm riding on our usual "donut" ride north out of the city. I look to my left to see a tall guy all dressed in black kit in a really long and low position. I then did the ultimate double-take because, sure enough, there I was riding alongside the Lion King himself.

[fiamme red]

Full Article:
Mario Cipollini: “Real sprinters are like heavyweight boxers” (https://rouleur.cc/editorial/mario-cipollini/)Great interview!

Honestly, in your life, more victories or women?

If I only had 198 women, the same numbers as my victories, I’d have to be considered a loser.:p

[redir]

Same birthday as William Shatner. I can see something there.

[DG24]

I always thought that his tactic, especially when he had his train, was fascinating in it predictability. Everyone knew what was going to happen, and it happened anyway.

Some noteworthy comments in that article.

[GregL]

...but I found his method of winning sprints using his lead-out train rather boring and predictable.
Cipo was pretty good without his train when he had to be. At Gent-Wevelgem (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SedHmKRnwpk)in 2002, he bridged to the small leading group and then schooled them in the sprint without any assistance. Later that year at the world championship (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akrF9djz8Ic), his lead-out train was only two national team members (albeit one was Alessandro Petacchi...) and again he won with ease. I miss Mario!

Greg

[HenryA]

Yes, the predictability was interesting - it created supreme anticipation because everyone knew it was coming and knew it was almost irresistible. It was a great display of the complete mastery of one version of “how to win a bike race”.

And what a character!

[Tony T]

There's a guy located north of Toronto who used to distributed Cipollini brand bicycles. At one point a few years ago he mentioned that Mario would be stopping in Toronto (perhaps on his way to Interbike?). I thought "that's interesting" but didn't think about it again. A few weeks later I'm riding on our usual "donut" ride north out of the city. I look to my left to see a tall guy all dressed in black kit in a really long and low position. I then did the ultimate double-take because, sure enough, there I was riding alongside the Lion King himself.

Nice!

[wc1934]

Cycling needs more characters like him - I guess he is best known for his wild kits (Julius Caesar, Saeco anatomical muscle skinsuit etc), his antics, and his comments.
But he did change cycling with his speed trains - huge number of stage wins.
Best sprinter ever? He gets my vote.

[KJMUNC]

One of my all-time favorite characters. Got to interact with him at the 2004 Tour de Georgia and he lived up to the legend in every sense. I own his Liquigas team bike from his last year as a pro and I love riding it....you can't get any longer/lower on such a huge frame!

[dancinkozmo]

There's a guy located north of Toronto who used to distributed Cipollini brand bicycles. At one point a few years ago he mentioned that Mario would be stopping in Toronto (perhaps on his way to Interbike?). I thought "that's interesting" but didn't think about it again. A few weeks later I'm riding on our usual "donut" ride north out of the city. I look to my left to see a tall guy all dressed in black kit in a really long and low position. I then did the ultimate double-take because, sure enough, there I was riding alongside the Lion King himself.

did he win the king city sprint ?

[MattTuck]

Yes, the predictability was interesting - it created supreme anticipation because everyone knew it was coming and knew it was almost irresistible. It was a great display of the complete mastery of one version of “how to win a bike race”.

And what a character!

There are a lot of gifted riders that are able to win a few races on their tactics and talent alone. But to win again and again, when everyone knows you're strong and how you're going to win the race, that takes a special kind of talent.

[choke]

.

[foggypeake]

Not only was he a great sprinter, but he understood how to make racing a spectacle. He lived by the idea that there is no such thing as bad publicity - and was one of the first to exploit the media to maximize his PR.

[KJMUNC]

And I would absolutely kill for the 10 speed shifters in this image.

No doubt....same used by Jan too

[GOTHBROOKS]

i have an autographed cipo poster above my bed. hes wearing brikos and riding a yellow pinarello but not blazing cigs. he is 100% david lee roth on a bicycle.

[v531xc]

i have an autographed cipo poster above my bed. hes wearing brikos and riding a yellow pinarello but not blazing cigs. he is 100% david lee roth on a bicycle.

I was thinking maybe more the excess of Tommy Lee, but I see what you mean with the flamboyance and hair of DLR

[likebikes]

came to this thread expecting to see only pictures, only half disappointed.

[oldpotatoe]

The guy who will never wear out the top buttons of any shirt. :)

[oldpotatoe]

i have an autographed cipo poster above my bed. hes wearing brikos and riding a yellow pinarello but not blazing cigs. he is 100% david lee roth on a bicycle.

:eek:really?

[Tony T]

i have an autographed cipo poster above my bed. hes wearing brikos and riding a yellow pinarello but not blazing cigs. he is 100% david lee roth on a bicycle.

Post a pic.

[wc1934]

came to this thread expecting to see only pictures, only half disappointed.
I didnt have the heart to post the picture of him naked on his bike, but here you go

http://coresites-cdn.factorymedia.com/twc/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/mario2.jpg

[GOTHBROOKS]

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/789/40077759515_948292cf49_c.jpg
i got both of these posters from another paceline user. he got them from his dad, who got them at an interbike sometime in the early 90s. hence the "to jerry" signature instead of "to goth brooks".

[oldguy00]

Was always a big fan as well.

Who made the aluminum bikes he used when with Rock Racing??

http://mario.cipollini.over-blog.com/article-22807484.html