Mario Cipollini insisting to ride the Giro d' Italia 2012
Former Italian professional cyclist Mario Cipollini is standing firm on his decision to return back to the professional cycling at the age of 45.
The news broke earlier last week when the former World Champion showed interest towards riding the Giro d’ Italia 2012.
He has now rejected the idea of his return being influenced because of the financial gains.
Cipollini also nicknamed as the ‘Lion King’ holds the record of winning the most stages at the Giro during his career.
He holds as many as 42 stages of the Italian race under his belt, including three point’s classifications victories during his extensive career.
Mario retired form professional cycling in 2005 after serving his last year as a professional with Team Liquigas-Bianchi.
He marked his return with Team Rock Racing in 2008 and rode the Tour of California before saying the final good bye to the sport.
The Italian is optimistic to make his comeback with Team Farnese Vini-Selle Italia and would love to ride as a lead-out support for Andrea Guardini.
He told Gazzetta.it, "For me going out on the bike and suffering is part of my system, I’m not the classic ex-cyclist who retires from racing and puts on a belly and who likes to have a glass of wine or whatever".
"I still have a way of life and diet that means that I still have good sensations when I make an effort on the bike," Cipollini concluded.
The cyclist will turn 45 on March 22nd and his decision to ride the top level of cycling at this age was a definite surprise.
Team Farnese Vini-Selle Italia’s manager Luca Scinto refused to have one of the best stage race cyclist on board for the 2012 season.
Scinto admitted Mario’s brilliance and also noted that his time is now over and he should admit that.
“Mario was a real great, but he’s had his time. And it’s right that he acknowledges that calmly himself,” Luca mentioned.
However, the biggest hurdle in his way is the UCI anti-doping system. Any cyclist coming out of the retirement to ride the top level of the sport must provide UCI with his whereabouts information for the past six months.
The UCI rule prohibits Mario from riding the Giro even if he succeeds to secure a contract with a World Tour team for the 2012 season.
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