Mario Cipollini comes back from retirement with Rock Racing
On 1/16/08 one of my team mates was out for a afternoon ride and who did he see in Malibu, CA, none other than Mario Cipollini. Read the quoted text below to read about his experience. then read the news article below that.
As usual Bicycle.net is getting the inside stories that no one else is.
“A little jet lagged since he arrived from Italy yesterday, but he rode
PCH for about three hours today. And how do I know that? Because at
Webb Way a deputy sheriff had stopped him for making sudden lane changes
in traffic and running the red light at Cross Creek.Mario had passed me near Big Rock, so I knew he was on the road. When I
saw the lights on the sheriff’s car, I slowed down and saw that Mario
was being questioned. I approached and the sheriff asked “Do you know
this guy and why he is here?” It was hard to keep a straight face, but
Mario is really distinctive with his rainbow jersey and pants. Anyhow,
I talked the sheriff out of citing him, and each of us then listened to
the latter’s complaints about how groups of cyclists hog the road, talk
all the time, ignore motor vehicles, and generally are dangerous. It
sure would have been worse had Jeffrey not been so nice to the officials
for the last three years.After the sheriff walked away, Mario and I talked for a few minutes
about the purpose of his trip, where he is staying, etc. And now I have
Mario’s Italian cellphone number. So being a good citizen and helping
another cyclist sometimes has nice rewards”. Lee D.
Mario Cipollini will make his return to the peloton this season after a three-year retirement. The 40 year-old sprinter has come to an agreement with Rock Racing, managed by fashion label Rock & Republic owner Michael Ball, to become one of the squad’s riders, but also as a manager of the team.
La Gazzetta dello Sport reported that “Super Mario” is currently in Santa Monica, California, for technical and administrative meetings. An agreement that he would join the team was reached Wednesday night after a five hour meeting with Ball, and the contract may be signed as early as Friday. The 2002 World champion may make his come-back next month in the Tour of California.
While the Italian has always been known for liking spectacular appearances, he may also have financial motives for the new job. Earlier this week the tax magistrate of the Province of Lucca announced that Cipollini must pay some 1.1 million Euro back in taxes, sanctions and interest.
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Jan 25th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
[...] Mario Cipollini has some pretty hefty tax bills to pay so he’s coming out of retirement at age 40. He’s signed to the controversial (some say) Rock Racing [...]