Mario Cipollini has “had his time”, Luca Scinto
Luca Scinto of Team Farnese Vini-Selle Italia has briefed that Team Farnese Vini-Selle Italia does not need the services of the former cyclist Mario Cipollini.
He told Tuttobiciweb, “What do you want me to say? For me it’s a bolt from the blue, I really didn’t know anything about it and I don’t like it”.
“I respect Cipollini as a champion and a man and I always will, but this really seems like a joke to me. What can I say, as long as I’m in charge of this team we won’t talk about it,” he concluded.
The news came as a reply to Mario’s statement earlier when the former cyclist briefed his intentions to represent the Italian team in the coming edition of the Giro d’ Italia.
Cipollini is turning 45 next year and still believes that he has enough strength to ride the Italian Grand Tour.
The former world champion is looking ahead to use Andrea Guardini as his main lead-out man for the race.
The 44-year-old announced his retirement initially in 2005, and returned back to ride the Tour of California in 2008.
He again retired in 2008, and has now shown intent to test his legs at the top level of sports. He started riding professionally in 1989 with Del Tongo and stayed with the team for a period of three years.
He also represented Team GB-MG (1992-2993), Team Mercatone Uno-Medeghini (1994-1995), Team Saeco-AS Juvenes San Marino (1996-2001) and Team Acqua & Sapone (2002).
Mario accepted an offer from Team Domina Vacanze in 2003 and spent a period of two years with the side before signing with Team Liquigas Bianchi for 2005.
He announced his retirement in 2005, and marked his return with Team Rock Racing in 2008.
Cipollini holds as many as 42 stage Giro stage victories under his belt and is ranked amongst the best stage cyclists in the sport.
Scinto noted that Mario is indeed a world class player but his time is now over. “Mario was a real great, but he’s had his time. And it’s right that he acknowledges that calmly himself,” he stated.
Luca also mentioned that Cipollini has only tried to pull a publicity stunt and was not serious about his comments about returning to the game.
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