Feb 28, 2006
Cipo Wants to Direct a Team
Mario Cipollini still wants to be involved in cycling and has his eyes on being a director on a team. Cipo is still recovering from a bad ski crash that resulted in a knee injury. The ex world champ made this thoughts on his future known at the unveiling at the Giro della Provincia di Lucca which is a race in Cipo’s home region in Italy.
Even though being a director of a team is where Cipo sees himself in the future, Amore E Vita team Boss Ivan Fannini has a standing offer for Cipo to join his team as a racer. Fannini has a bit of extra cash in the checking account since his team landed McDonalds as a large sponsor. Hopefully, Mario will pass that offer up.
It would be a huge coup for me and for Mario. Cipo has been a fuoriclasse (above class rider, champion) and I am convinced that he can regain his form and do well. (Then jokingly added) In all of these years Cipo has not had to work that hard. He would always stay in the middle of the peloton, contest the final sprint and win.
Cipo responds with a smile…
I have tons of respect for Ivano Fannini and his entire family. He is the one who put me on a bike and gave ma a chance to race. He would like to see me racing until I am 40 years old, and in cycling today that is very difficult. I just don’t think I am the type of athlete that can keep competing until a certain age and I am happy with the way I finished out my career winning the Giro della Provincia in 2005.
So it looks like Cipo will stick to his director aspirations and not push a peddle in anger anytime soon.
http://it.sports.yahoo.com/28022006/2/cipollini-vorrei-dirigere-team.html