Cipollini: Doped to the Gills

Yesterday, we asked, "Should we be surprised? Will Cipo say it is not true or admit?" regarding reports in the Gazzetta dello Sport that Mario Cipollini was linked to Operation Puerto and his use of EPO, transfusions, and hormones.

Although Cipollini has not responded himself, his lawyer has said, "With this communication are categorically denied the unfounded and absurd accusations placed against my client. The documents published do not in any way refer to him. The fax number that appears on the incriminating table [the year planner], which according to the fanciful journalistic reconstruction is traceable to Mr Cipollini, is not a fax number but an Italian telephone number that does not belong to my client, and moreover is a handwritten annotation. In this regard it should be noted that until 2004 Mr Cipollini was resident in Monaco…

But there is more. In the fanciful article one reads that the presumed codename would be ‘Maria’ or ‘CP’. A very strange circumstance when one considers that other athletes implicated in Operacion Puerto were indicated, as is made evident in the same article, with a single pseudonym; ‘Brillo,’ ‘Piti,’ ‘Zapatero,’ “El Bufalo.’ Mario Cipollini even has two pseudonyms!

But the article omits to refer to the fact that already, on 24 August 2006, the newspaper La Reppubblica, published the news that the athlete in question [Cipollini] had the codename ‘Pavarotti.’ So, at this point there would be three pseudonyms strongly linked to the athlete. Mr Cipollini, as further evidence of his having nothing to do with the matter, makes himself available with immediate effect to whatever haematological verification against the 99 bags of blood still in possession of the Spanish authorities. In consideration of the above, I have received a broad mandate to safeguard the interests of my client in both civil and criminal courts.”

Today's Gazzetta dello Sport had this report about the "magic 2002" (the year in which Cipollini  won the World Championship,  Milan-Sanremo, Gent-Wevelgem, six stage wins in the Giro d'Italia, and three in the Vuelta a Espana):

"That season Mario Cipollini was racing for the Acqua &Sapone-Cantina Tollo team. A black and white zebra striped jersey. 3 ‘appointments’ on his cycling calendar: March 23, the Milano-Sanremo, which Cipollini had never won; April 10, the Gand-Wevelgem, the only Northern classic that sprinters have a chance of winning; October 13, the World Championships.

The instructions from Dr. Fuentes were clear, on the chart he wrote "Sanscrito", the code he had used before, hundreds of other times. Cipollini’s ‘doping regime’ was due to last from January 10 to January 24. From January 10 to January 21, who would have to take anabolic steroids, and then, every other day, 1000 units of EPO, an erythropoietin and the most commonly used doping in endurance sports. Back then, unannounced doping ‘spot checks’ did not take place. On January 18, following 1 week of ‘treatment’, he passed to taking 500 units of EPO, but still every other day, until February 3. The numbers written close to the instructions on the charts (52 and 50) appear to indicate the value of hematocrit.

From January 26 came a second phase of ‘treatment’ and more EPO: chorionic gonadotropin, a natural hormone (also found in women and produced during pregnancy) that people who use anabolic steroids take. The letters “HM” appear after the name Cipollini for the entire month of February: 1 dose every 2 days. Cipollini makes his season debut on February 13, at the Giro del Mediterraneo, in France. His doping with hormones continues and, on February 17, he’s instructed to take 2000 units of EPO. At the Vuelta Valenciana, on February 26, which is traditionally a short race and perfect preparation for sprinters, Cipollini switches to taking IGF: insulin-like growth factors – growth hormones. Every day until March 2, when the crucial note in Fuentes’s doping system appears: the letter "E" – the extraction of blood. That will then be ‘treated’, ‘cleaned’ and kept for ‘crucial moments’.

Fuentes indicates the most important races with three upward pointing arrows: for Cipollini, Sanremo and the World Championship. The Gand-Wevelgem, on April 10, is indicated with 2 arrows. Three days before the big spring race on March 12, ‘Cipo’ replaced his blood: nobody could compete with him in the sprint. The doping continued the week following Sanremo with a mixture of steroids and 2000 units of EPO per day for nine days up to April 2. On April 10 he won again: the Gent-Wevelgem. At the end of the Giro di Aragona in Spain he had another blood infusion to prepare for the Giro.

On July 15 in Florence he announced an unusual retreat that even left his teammates stunned, but he had already started a two-week course of anabolic steroids. On July 26 he replaced 2 bags of blood and initiated a week of taking growth hormones on alternative days. After that he introduced IGF into his regime, which encourages the growth of muscle fibres. On August 24 and August 25 he had two blood infusions and another treatment of IGF.

There were still 3 weeks to go before the World Championships, Cipollini pulled out of the Vuelta on September 14. The Vuelta started on September 7 and two days before that Cipollini had a re-infusion of blood and then during the race had a final dose of growth hormone. He broke off on September 14 when another blood sample was taken and he had another infusion He withdrew from the race at the 8th stage saying "I’m feeling at my best. I don’t want to ruin my fitness, which is already very good. I think I know myself well enough now. I know how best to prepare myself for races. And I know how to best train at home, especially as I’ve shown I can win again after 100 days away from cycling. There is still a month to go before the World Championships. I need to do a specific type of training for that race.”

The key to the eventual World Chamionship victory in Zolder for Cipollini were 3 bags of blood, each of 250ml from September 20 to September 24, he had a sample of his blood taken out of his system and, over the same period of time, put a bag of ‘clean’ blood back in. In a chart, Fuentes states exactly how much time the procedure would need to take effect.

It appears that during the week of the World Championships Cipollini put another bag of ‘manipulated’ blood into his system: probably on October 9, at Salice Terme, before leaving for Belgium, but after the tests carried out by the Italian Cycling Federation, which were scheduled for 7 in the morning. The race itself was to take place on October 13. Once again, Fuentes instructed the rider, via a chart, on the optimum time schedule: from October 8 to October 10. But October 9, a date that had been circled on the chart, is the date that is highlighted the most: too risky to bring the bags of blood to Belgium.

All for the World Championship jersey."

Note: At the center of the Operation Puerto trial are 206 bags of blood, discovered following raids in Madrid and found in the frifrerator of hematologist Merino Batres. 99 of the bags of blood still remain unidentified.





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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com.  There are now more than 2,700 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page. 

Cipollini in 2002: EPO, Transfusions & Hormones

Mario Cipollini is linked to Operation Puerto in Spain according to Gazzetta dello Sport. EPO, transfusions, and hormones reportedly used in the "magic 2002", the year he won the road World Championship,  Milan-Sanremo and six stage wins in the Giro d'Italia.

Should we be surprised? Will Cipo say it is not true or admit?

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com.  There are now more than 2,700 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page. 

How Fast Can Mario Cipollini Descend?

Remember the Cipollini "Bond: Open Your Eyes" video?

Here is behind the scenes look of the recording of the descent in Lucca. It comes with this warning: DO NOT IMITATE!

Cipollini Bond - Behind the scene 1 from Mcipollini on Vimeo.

Speaking of Mario, he's in Miami for the Gran Fondo Giro d'Italia. Today was the official presentation at the Miami City Hall.

Today is the last day to register online; you can also register in-person on Saturday at the Expo. Details at  sit www.granfondogiroditalia.com

And, speaking of the Expo: Sarto Cycles, the "Handmade in Veneto Italy" framebuilder, will be at the Expo with a few bikes, including the Cima Coppi and Brezza, and perhaps a few frames.

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome.

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Will the Lion King Roar Back?

In an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Mario Cipollini, now 45 years old, has said he wishes to ride the 2012 Giro d’Italia as lead-out man for Andrea Guardini on the Farnese Vini-Selle Italia team.

"I want to return to racing by coming to the Giro and lead out the sprints for Guardini. I feel good, and what is a good sign is that I feel an extreme desire to work hard. I weigh 90kg, 8 more than when I was in top condition, but it’s not excess fat, just muscle, especially in my arms and trunk. My legs are perfect. I have some little pains in my knee and back, but my motor is good, and capable of standing up to this gamble. Guardini has talent and races on my bikes. It would really be a beautiful challenge to be one of his domestiques at the Giro, and if I pulled the sprint for him against Cavendish, how many would he win?"

However, with the Giro starting in May, Cipollini is up against the UCI rules which require a retired rider returning to competition to a) notify the UCI six months in advance, and b) participate four months on the anti-doping register. Rules which Lance Armstrong received an exemption from so he could race the Tour Down Under in 2009.

Cipollini last raced in 2008 after signing a contract with the USA Michael Ball's Rock Racing team and riding in the Tour of California.

In 2009 Mario infiltrated stage 13 of the Giro to go for a spin:

All I know is that it would be very entertaining to see Mario back.

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Cipollini Just Has a Away About Things

Like this teaser about what is coming next from MCipollini.


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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,000 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

Theme: Spoiled Riders and No Machismo

A theme has been bubbling up from the old guard: today's riders are spoiled and lack machismo.

Here is Cipollini commenting back in December, 2010:
Mario Cipollini has launched a stinging attack on what he called the lack of machismo in modern cycling. The Italian, who recently joined the Katusha team as a consultant, said that he is bemused by the reaction of certain riders in the current peloton to defeat.

“I lived a very different cycling,” Cipollini told L’Equipe. “At the beginning of a sprint, I felt like a gladiator, ready to do anything to keep my place. And when I lost, I wasn’t capable of going to congratulate whoever had beaten me, like Andy Schleck did at the Tour. Me, I’d hate him because he’d taken the bread from my mouth.”

The friendship between Andy Schleck and Alberto Contador is something that Cipollini finds difficult to fathom and he echoed the thoughts of the late Laurent Fignon on the aftermath of the “Chaingate” incident.

“Seeing Schleck and Contador embrace on the Tourmalet after crossing the line and then seeing Contador affectionately pinch Schleck’s cheek during his interview was unreal for me,” Cipollini exclaimed. “Logically, Schleck should have been raging, he had just lost the Tour after all.

“After the chain slip incident on the Port de Balès, he should have attacked the Spaniard day after day, in front of the microphones and on the air too, without giving him time to piss!”

Nor did Alberto Contador escape Cipollini’s criticism. “Machismo is disappearing, I can’t find it in Contador,” he complained. “Contador has the anonymous face of a surveyor or an accountant.”

Cipollini was also left bemused by the reaction of Italian leader Filippo Pozzato at the end of the world championships road race in Geelong.

“Pozzato has just been beaten for third place and a second later he has only one idea in his mind, to congratulate the winner,” Cipollini said incredulously. “What can be going on in his head? Has winning become so incidental at this point that there is no joy or disappointment? Are they only working men now?”

“I read an interview with Umberto Veronesi, a scientist, a reputed oncologist and Minister for Health,” Cipollini continued. “In five hundred years or more, human beings might have both sets of genitalia, male and female. I don’t want this evolution to have started already in cycling…”

Cipollini admitted to being far more expressive when he was defeated and he believes that the riches now on offer to top cyclists mean that the edges have softened on many rivalries.

“At the end of Milan-San Remo in 2003 I threatened to strangle Bernhard Eisel while shaking my fist because he had blocked me with 300 metres to go,” Cipollini recalled. “And I was really frightening. I could see it in the eyes of the spectators.

“I had the meanness in me and it was necessary. The others weren’t going to give me any gifts. In Flanders, on the Koppenberg, the gregari would throw themselves under your wheels to block your route. And if you were in a bad position 3km from the line, Kelly and Vanderaerden would start an echelon straight away to put you in the ditch. That was the rule.”



Kuiper comes out of retirement to prove a point...
Dutch legend Hennie Kuiper, the former Olympic and world professional road race champion, held a press conference on April 1st, 2011, in Amsterdam to announced that at nearly 63 years of age he is returning to the sport that he loves, not as a DS but as a rider – he said it a result of unfinished business, and to prove a point about some of what he calls "today’s crop of softies!".

The winner of four out of the five “Monument” classics and having ridden the Tour de France 12 times, finishing second twice and winning the stage to Alpe d'Huez on two occasions. Kuiper used the conference to announce his return and alongside the launch of the new Dutch team which he says will be made up of riders who in his words “are old enough to know how to suffer properly”. The squad, known as Vindmill Rossin, will be using the legendary Rossin bikes.



Here is Roger De Vlaeminck, four time Paris-Roubiax winner, in a recent interview with Gazzetta dello Sport (as reported by Stephen Farrand in www.cyclingnews.com):
Tom Boonen could win Paris-Roubaix for a fourth time on Sunday, equalling the record of Belgian classics legend Roger De Vlaeminck. But that is where the similarities between the two Flemish riders go, according to De Vlaeminck in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, who predicts that Fabian Cancellara, rather than Boonen, could be the first to match his record.

Just like during his career in the 1970s, De Vlaeminck is not afraid to speak his mind about the current generation of ‘spoilt’ riders. He described Filippo Pozzato as ‘too good looking to be a rider’ and revealed he prefers French-speaking Philippe Gilbert to fellow Flandrian Boonen.

“It’s about time, considering the record has lasted for 34 years,” De Vlaeminck said bluntly about Boonen’s chances of winning a fourth Paris-Roubaix.

“But I think Cancellara will beat the record before Boonen does. He can win on Sunday by dropping Boonen. I like Cancellara, he attacks and races with panache. Everyone rode against him at Flanders, even the mechanics of the other teams who wouldn’t give him a bottle. That was scandalous. But he was the strongest. Boonen is a good rider but he’s not as strong as he once was.”

De Vlaeminck refutes the idea that he and Boonen are very similar as riders.

“How can you say that? He can’t climb and can’t time trial. Cancellara is good at time trials but can’t climb, so neither of them are like me. I was more like Merckx…

“I was a bandit. If Boonen is the God of Belgian cycling, then I’m the devil.

“Our generation was classier, too. Look at Saronni? He won the Giro at just 21. We always raced to get a result and me and Merckx fought even for the criteriums. These days they use 50 races a year as training. We were more complete and could win in a sprint, on a climb or in a time trial. And there were far stronger rivals. At Roubaix I was up against Moser, Maertens, Kuiper, Raas and Hinault. Today, apart from lucky cases like Nuyens at Flanders, there’s just Cancellara and Boonen.”

Despite being Flemish to the bone, De Vlaeminck admits he’s a fan of Philippe Gilbert, from the French-speaking Walloon part of Belgium, even if the Omega Pharma-Lotto rider always avoid the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix.

“I like Gilbert far more than I do Boonen. He’s a nice guy, kind and not at all big-headed. He races all year, right up to Lombardy and can win alone. I wish he’d try Paris-Roubaix. I’ve nothing against Boonen but you can’t be a fan of both of them in Belgium and I’m not going to change my mind.”

Gazzetta also asked De Vlaeminck about Filippo Pozzato. He dismisses the Italian with some hard truths and blunt criticism about owning a Ferrari.

“Pozzato was a champion when he was young and had more class than Boonen. I don’t know his problem but he’s lost a lot of time. He should be able to easily win Paris-Roubaix. His problem is that he’s too good looking to be a rider.”

“A Ferrari is not the car for a rider, it’s for a footballer. The boss of Brooklyn (Giorgio Perfetti) gave me a Ferrari when I won Milan-San Remo but I couldn’t get my bike in the boot and had to take the saddle off, which I then forgot at home. I sold it after a year.”

De Vlaeminck won 249 races during his 16-year career. He won all five monumental Classics but dismisses the idea that Cancellara can pull off the same achievement. He also has some choice words for modern-day directeur sportifs. His only involvement in cycling was as a mentor for some rider from Zimbabwe but watched the Tour of Flanders at home, claiming he had not been invited by the organisers.

“Cancellara better hurry up because he’s already 30. I think it’ll be hard for him, especially at Lombardy and I don’t think he can beat Gilbert at Liege,” De Vlaeminck said.

“I’m not interested in the ‘politics’ of cycling and I was tired of driving a team car at 30km/h behind the riders. I’m against race radio because the races are better without all the tactics but perhaps the directeur sportifs are scared of falling asleep.”

PARIS-ROUBAIX is SUNDAY

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,800 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

"Two of My Favorite Things...."

Barbara Pedrotti and a MCipollini bike on the cover of the January issue of CICLISMO.

ICJ Reader contribution contest will run 1 January to 15 February, 2011. Details here.

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,600 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also an Italian weather widget along the right side and a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page. What I'm riding.

I Wouldn't Give Him Time to Piss

This story appeared in www.cyclingnews.com:

Cipollini decries modern cycling's lack of machismo

by Barry Ryan

Mario Cipollini has launched a stinging attack on what he called the lack of machismo in modern cycling. The Italian, who recently joined the Katusha team as a consultant, said that he is bemused by the reaction of certain riders in the current peloton to defeat.

“I lived a very different cycling,” Cipollini told L’Equipe. “At the beginning of a sprint, I felt like a gladiator, ready to do anything to keep my place. And when I lost, I wasn’t capable of going to congratulate whoever had beaten me, like Andy Schleck did at the Tour. Me, I’d hate him because he’d taken the bread from my mouth.”

The friendship between Andy Schleck and Alberto Contador is something that Cipollini finds difficult to fathom and he echoed the thoughts of the late Laurent Fignon on the aftermath of the “Chaingate” incident.

“Seeing Schleck and Contador embrace on the Tourmalet after crossing the line and then seeing Contador affectionately pinch Schleck’s cheek during his interview was unreal for me,” Cipollini exclaimed. “Logically, Schleck should have been raging, he had just lost the Tour after all.

“After the chain slip incident on the Port de Balès, he should have attacked the Spaniard day after day, in front of the microphones and on the air too, without giving him time to piss!”

Nor did Alberto Contador escape Cipollini’s criticism. “Machismo is disappearing, I can’t find it in Contador,” he complained. “Contador has the anonymous face of a surveyor or an accountant.”

Cipollini was also left bemused by the reaction of Italian leader Filippo Pozzato at the end of the world championships road race in Geelong.

“Pozzato has just been beaten for third place and a second later he has only one idea in his mind, to congratulate the winner,” Cipollini said incredulously. “What can be going on in his head? Has winning become so incidental at this point that there is no joy or disappointment? Are they only working men now?”

“I read an interview with Umberto Veronesi, a scientist, a reputed oncologist and Minister for Health,” Cipollini continued. “In five hundred years or more, human beings might have both sets of genitalia, male and female. I don’t want this evolution to have started already in cycling…”

Cipollini admitted to being far more expressive when he was defeated and he believes that the riches now on offer to top cyclists mean that the edges have softened on many rivalries.

“At the end of Milan-San Remo in 2003 I threatened to strangle Bernhard Eisel while shaking my fist because he had blocked me with 300 metres to go,” Cipollini recalled. “And I was really frightening. I could see it in the eyes of the spectators.

“I had the meanness in me and it was necessary. The others weren’t going to give me any gifts. In Flanders, on the Koppenberg, the gregari would throw themselves under your wheels to block your route. And if you were in a bad position 3km from the line, Kelly and Vanderaerden would start an echelon straight away to put you in the ditch. That was the rule.”

ICJ Reader contribution contest will run 1 January to 15 February, 2011. Details here.

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,600 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also an Italian weather widget along the right side and a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page. What I'm riding.

CycleSport: MCipollini RB1000 is "Bellissimo", Part II

Thanks to Jerome we have a translation of the key points of the review that appeared in CycleSport, a French magazine:


"Frame and Tubes: Unique
One can quickly understand why the RB1000 price tag is so expensive. In reality, this is the only true complete monocoque frame on the market. Usually, the frames labeled monocoque have a front triangle to which the rear triangle is connected. With the Cipollini the complete frame is built as a single piece thanks to a unique mould for the 2 triangles, very complex to engineer and costing a fortune. With such a design the precision must be total and any error can not be forgiven. Furthermore, the shapes designed by engineers are not making the job any easier. We cannot speak about tubes but rather about non-typical shapes. The frame is oversized everywhere! We can almost believe we possess a time trial bike. But no, it's a road bike for sure. The steering, for instance, is oversized with a top diameter of 1 1/4" and the bottom 1 1/2". The fiber used for the frame is a T1000, quite unique. The objective is clear: maximum rigidity for maximum efficiency! 7 sizes available.

Behavior: On another planet
Quite logically, the RB1000 is not suitable for a cycling tourist. As Mario told us: "the bikes are made as for for myself". Needless to say they are not for the crowd. Effectively, right at the start of pedaling, the RB1000 communicates clearly that fit legs are required. The frame is ultra-rigid and the accuracy in selecting the right gears must be perfect. But the ride is thrilling, it's impossible to describe. The throughput is impressive and the feelings explode. Paired with wheels like the Lightweight Ventoux, the RB1000 is a real bomb! We pedaled stronger and stronger until no more watts remained. Because the RB1000 is not forgiving of slowing down. It cannot be considered a downside as the pleasure is so great. Another nice surprise is the comfort. Against all odds, the RB1000 delivers good vertical comfort.

Eventually our tour ended and that's the only regret, back on earth…."

The only negative was for price: 12,100 euro as tested. btw, I've never seen an RB1000 with two water bottle cages...has anyone?

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,600 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also an Italian weather widget along the right side and a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page. What I'm riding.

CycleSport: MCipollini RB1000 is "Bellissimo"

French magazine CycleSport was very impressed with the RB1000 from Mario Cipollini calling it "Bellissimo". The only negative was for price: 12,100 euro as tested. btw, I've never seen an RB1000 with two water bottle cages...has anyone?

I'd welcome any French language readers to supply a brief translation focusing on the key points of the of the article (click on photos to enlarge).

ICJ Reader contribution contest will run 1 January to 15 February, 2011. Details here.

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,600 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also an Italian weather widget along the right side and a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page. What I'm riding.

MCipollini Bikes Come to Verona

Verona entrepreneur Piergiorgio Giambenini, a sponsor of the ISD-Neri professional team, has expanded his TTNK ski and tennis store in Verona to include the sales of bicycles. Mario Cipollini's MCipollini brand of bikes and Specialized bikes will be sold at the store that is near Porta Vescovo, one of the old entrances to Verona. The store is among the first in Italy chosen to sell Mario's bikes.

The inauguration yesterday was attended by Mario Cipollini and Italian national champion Giovanni Visconti of ISD-Neri along with most of his teammates.

If you are Verona the TTNK store is located at Via Francesco Torbido, 2.

ICJ Reader contribution contest will run 1 January to 15 February, 2011. Details here.

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,600 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also an Italian weather widget along the right side and a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page. What I'm riding.

Mario Cipollini's Newly Launched Website: MCipollini.com

Mario Cipollini has launched his new website for his MCipollini line of bikes and clothing: www.mcipollini.com. In Italian and English.

Two bikes are introduced, the RB1000 (the champion's bike)and the RB800 (the racing bike). They each are available in several color combinations. Cipollini is particularly proud of the fact that the frames are manufactured in Florence.

Cycling wear is also introduced for men and women.



If you missed Mario's leaked video go here.

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,500 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog and there is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page. What I'm riding.

Wilier Triestina and MCippolini News

Back to the beginning, that is, the 2009 season: the Lampre-Farnese Vini team rides Wilier Triestina bikes. ISD, the large Ukranian metallurgical company sponsored team, rides Cipollini bikes.

A week ago it was announced that ISD would become a partner of Lampre and the team would be named Lampre-ISD beginning next season. Lampre has now announced that they have renewed their contract with Wilier for another three years. The Lampre - Wilier relationship began in 2003.

Under the agreement Wilier will supply Lampre-ISD with a yearly supply of 150 bikes and of "all the necessary technical material".

In 2011 Team Lampre-ISD will use the Cento1 SL (of which Petacchi rides a specially modified one).

Mario Cipollini will become one of the primary sponsors of what was the ISD team under the name "MCipollini". The team is searching for another major sponsor at which time it will be decided if "MCipollini" will be the primary or secondary sponsor.


Photos: Petacchi won the green jersey at the 2009 Tour de France on a Wilier Cento 1 SL; Cipollini photo by Bettini

Who knows what "Wilier" stands for?

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,500 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog and there is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

What Was Northwave Thinking?

Or, for that matter, Cipollini?

Photo: courtesy of www.bianchista.blogspot.com

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,300 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog and there is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

A Cipollini SAECO Cannondale

A Cipollini ridden SAECO Cannondale can be found at Brian Rourke Cycles in Stoke On Trent, England.

Thanks to reader Mike for sending in the photo.

My own build of a made-for-Cipollini Cannondale can be seen here. I am still looking for Coca-Cola bottles in the small .66 Elite water bottle size.

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondo, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,300 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog and there is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

Speaking of Cipollini......

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondo, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,300 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog and there is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

Cipollini Bikes at Tirreno-Adriatico

Back in January we reported, here, that the ISD-NERI Cycling Team would be using Cipollini bikes for this season. The bikes have been quite evident in the TV broadcasts of Tirreno-Adriatico as a number of ISD-NERI riders have launched escapes which have received quite a bit of broacast time. The team is using the "RB1000" model which has a curved seat tube.

There is also a model with a straight seat tube, the "RB800".

It would be nice if Mario sent me one of his frames for a review so I could compare it with my made-for-Cipollini Cannondale.

Photos: Cipollini bikes in action at Tirreno-Adriatico; photos by Bettini

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondo, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,300 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog and there is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

Mario Cipollini and ISD–NERI Cycling Team Presentation

The ISD-NERI Cycling Team presentation took place today on the outskirts of Verona at the beautiful Villa Quaranta. Mario Cipollini was on hand to present the "Cipollini" bicycles that ISD-NERI will be using this season.

At the presentation Cipollino revealed how he became involved in creating a Cipollini frame. "In a chance encounter with Federico Zecchetto, founder of Giordana and DMT, the idea arose of producing high-end bicycles. From that day we are working tirelessly, with an engineer for the design and with an Italian company for production of the bicycle. I have made available my name but above all my 30 years of experience in the saddle. We are sure that the that the finished product is the best the riders could ask for." A line of bicycles devoted to innovation and technology that in its first year will be seen in important races beginning with the Tour of San Luis (Argentina) this week.

The main objectives for the team this year: Milan-San Remo, Tirreno-Adriatico and, supposing an invitation, the Giro d'Italia.

Related story here.

Note: the team frame is model "RB1000". An Italian cycling magazine tested a (11,000 euro) Cipollini "RB800" in November which had a traditional, straight, seat tube:

Photos: Visconti and Cipollini, the entire squad

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal welcome; contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,100 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog and there is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

Cipollini Bikes for the ISD Cycling Team

The ISD Cycling Team will be riding "Cipollini" bikes during the 2010 season, coming off of Specialized. Super Mario was the "performance manager" of ISD last season.

It isn't clear yet who makes the frame/fork. (note: italiaanseracefietsen left a comment saying that the frame/fork is made by Max Lelli).

There is also a Cipollini clothing line in the works.

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal welcome; contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,100 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog and there is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

Cyclocross Racing: the Giro d'Italia Cross Series

The Federazione Ciclistica Italiana (FCI), the Italian cycling federation, has a cyclocross series of five races named the "Giro d'Italia Cross". The races are taking place in different Italian cities. The first event was Sunday in Lucca. The event schedule is as follows:
1° PROVA GIRO D’ITALIA CROSS, November 15, in Lucca (completed)
2° PROVA GIRO D’ITALIA CROSS, November 22, in Modena
3° PROVA GIRO D’ITALIA CROSS, December 8, in Faè di Oderzo (TV)
4° PROVA GIRO D’ITALIA CROSS, December 12, in Borgosesia (VC)
5° PROVA GIRO D’ITALIA CROSS, December 13, in Ornavasso (VB)

Photo: cyclocross in Lucca; proof that while the scenery may change, mud is the same everywhere in the world; yes, that is Mario Cipollini getting ready to send off the juniors.

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal welcome; contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,000 stories in this blog; the search feature to the right works best for finding things in the blog.