http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2008/jan08/jan18news2

This has been talked about a lot recently, but now it's official. It is going to be interesting to see if he has anything left.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2008/jan08/jan18news2

This has been talked about a lot recently, but now it's official. It is going to be interesting to see if he has anything left.

Even if he doesn't, it doesn't matter. He is a great showman, has style, etc. and will get even more fans to attend races just to see him. Awesome to see him back.

What bikes does Rock Racing ride on??

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2008/jan08/jan18news2

This has been talked about a lot recently, but now it's official. It is going to be interesting to see if he has anything left.
He didn't seem to have a lot left his last year as a pro.

What bikes does Rock Racing ride on??

Was suppose to be Scott, then it was Look. Now its DeRosa.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=features/2008/rock_racing_bikes08

"Ball confirmed with Cyclingnews that Trialtir USA, importers of De Rosa bicycles, would be supplying the team with De Rosa frames as well as LAS helmets. "In the 11th hour [Trialtir] came in with an amazing package and they will be true partners," said Ball. "And that is what I am always looking out for, people not just looking out for themselves but that have a true interest in expanding the sport and supporting my view on what needs to be done and with my perspective. We could not deny the strength that Trialtir brings to the table." Trialtir USA itself did not respond to inquiries for comment."

So, does 'Cipo turn Ball's balderdash into something cool? Or does Ball make Cipolinni's act look tired and foolish?

You make the call!

He didn't seem to have a lot left his last year as a pro.

His last year as a pro (actually just 3 months because he quit before the 2005 Giro) he won a stage at Qatar and a stage at the Giro di Lucca -- which is more than what a lot of other 37-year old pros can say over a similar 3-month period. But his results aren't the point here -- Cipo is going to bring a lot of positive energy and excitement to the team and to U.S. road scene generally. De Rosa hit the jackpot too.

an injection of personality into the US peloton is a good thing--the cycling scene here needs some big personalities. I can only imagine the skinsuits Cipo and Ball will come up with and the entrance Cipo has planned for his return.

an injection of personality into the US peloton is a good thing--the cycling scene here needs some big personalities. I can only imagine the skinsuits Cipo and Ball will come up with and the entrance Cipo has planned for his return.

Agreed. I'm hoping for the best. I hope Cipo injects as much life into the US domestic peloton as Mr. Posh Spice did for MLS soccer. I hope this doesn't end up like the Michael Jordan comeback on the Wizards where he clearly had diminished skills and the comeback was rather uneventful. It could go either way but at least with Ball driving the bus, he won't come quietly.

Pay your taxes and save your $$ and you can stay retired!!

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.

sounds like he needz the $crilla

sounds like he needz the $crilla

Probably. But this is a good thing for the US road scene. Who will be the most sought-after rider for an interview, photo op, or autograph at the Tour of California?? Big George? No. Levi?? Nyet. Dave Z?? Nein. The World Champion Paulo Bettini? Hmm, close, but no cigar. Cipo? Yes. There will be hordes of fans (and our wives) looking for him.

Probably. But this is a good thing for the US road scene. Who will be the most sought-after rider for an interview, photo op, or autograph at the Tour of California?? Big George? No. Levi?? Nyet. Dave Z?? Nein. The World Champion Paulo Bettini? Hmm, close, but no cigar. Cipo? Yes. There will be hordes of fans (and our wives) looking for him.
I don't know about that, Levi is pretty popular out here.

And maybe Mario isn't coming back..........
http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/Is_Cipollinis_comeback_already_over_article_174817 .htmlhttp://http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/Is_Cipollinis_comeback_already_over_article_174817 .html

Friday 18th January 2008 - By Stephen Farrand
CW breaking news 2

Could Mario Cipollini's comeback be over before it even began?

On Friday morning the Italian Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper claimed that Cipollini would come out of retirement and ride the Tour of California for the US Rock Racing team before becoming manager of a Monaco-based part of the team.

However by the end of the day it seems that Cipollini and charismatic Rock Racing owner Micheal Ball had already fallen out, contracts may never be signed and Cipollini might have to put his bike back in the garage.

The Rock Racing team has already cancelled a press conference planned for Monday January 21 and Cipollini has apparently decided to return to Italy on Sunday rather than stay, as planned, until the end of the month.

Cipollini first admitted there were problems with the new team on Italian radio.

“It's going to be a difficult birth, let's see what happens,” Cipollini said via phone from Santa Monica.

“We're discussing things and sifting through things but compared to two days ago things have become more difficult. Something has happened. We'll see if we manage to save the baby but it's going to be a difficult birth.”

In Saturday's edition of Gazzetta dello Sport, Cipollini pointed the finger at the current managment of the Rock Racing team.

"You've no ideas of what's going on. The whole project, the programme and the structure was all agreed with Michael Ball. Now there are problems and things have changed, his people are trying to change things. I'm better off going out on my bike to cool down before I go an meet Ball... I've asked for a face to face meeting to get to the bottom of things. We either stick to the contract or I'm going to go home," Cipo told Gazzetta.

"I've been here since Monday and we've held one meeting after another. Ball isn't the problem, my money isn't the problem and neither are my image rights and the team budget (apparently ten million Euro per year). The problem is the people around Ball and who are worried about losing their power because of the European team I'd manage."

When I came here in October I told them a lot about cycling...We created the project together. I asked for direct contact with Ball and he gave me carte blanche. I made it very clear about Sevilla, Botero and Hamilton, that they had already signed. I told Ball that it definitely wasn't the right way to do things and that those riders shouldn't race in Europe. He said I was right and said they would only ride in the USA. But now his guys have come up with new request such as: Cipollini has to be the manager in the USA as well as Europe, he has to move to the USA for some time. Now I can't understand what is going on..."

Cipollini makes it clear he wants to be involved in the team but that everybody needs to work together if the idea of having both a US and a European team is going to work.

"Isn't it better to ride together in a Bentley, than alone in a (Fiat) Ritmo...?" Cipollini beofre going for a ride along the California coast.

More later

According to the latest article, Ball has agreed to only race the team in the US this year and if thats the case, I can't see there being a sprint that Cipo won't be competitive in assuming he reaches the final 200m. A 40 y/o Cipo will give any domestic sprinter a run for their money if he's actually been training and didn't spend the last couple of years sitting on his can eating tiramisu.

Seems Cipo getting cold feet now. Ball seems like a first class ahole



Mario Cipollini, winner of 42 Giro d'Italia stages and the 2002 Milano-Sanremo, is biding his time to sign with Mike Ball's Rock Racing team. The 40 year-old Italian who retired in 2005 is pondering a dual-pronged comeback with the USA Continental team – both as a rider and as a team manager. However, he said to the Italian paper La Gazzetta dello Sport that "if they don't give me a straight response I will return home."

The ex-cyclist, known as "Super Mario" for his sprinting prowess in the nineties and early 2000s, is in Santa Monica, California, to meet with the prospective team and its staff. As previously reported, the idea was that Cipollini could return as a cyclist in the Tour of California next month, however an agreement has not been made between the outspoken executive behind the fashion label Rock & Republic and the charismatic Lucchese.

"You don't have an idea in what kind of conditions I find myself. The project, the programmes, the structure: all of it was shared together with Mike Ball. And now I see there are problems, the scenario is different, his collaborators are bucking," stated Cipollini, who last raced as a professional at the Milano-Sanremo with Team Liquigas-Bianchi in 2005.

"It is better that I vent a little bit on the bicycle before I go and meet them. I have asked for a face-to-face meeting to reach a definitive answer. Either there is a contract, or there is a return home."

Looks like Cipo signed. Found the link from DP - http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/Cipollini_signs_with_Rock_Racing_article_174887.ht ml

Not so fast............seems that all the websites that reported it as done deal are WRONG again. Cipo has gone home, no contract was ever signed, this time it sounds like Cipo's demands were a little too much.