Crack'n'fail

Who are you pulling for when they go head to head and why?

velocipedio

cipo. he's an old-timer and i'm an old-timer. and it's fun to see a kid get spanked from time to time.

cyclezealot

petacchi is a favorite..His UCI ratings are higher...Cippolini should merit our respect, but he is facing retirement, it would seem...Guess Cippo's flamouyancy just did not sell...Petacchi is a favorite Italian racer...His being kissed by the podium girls adorns my wallpaper..

Walter

My thoughts are similar to Velocipedios for the same reasons though Petacchi is at the top of his game and the Lion King is near the end. Nice to see him win that one in Qatar a few weeks ago. (Thank you Cycling.tv)

Crack'n'fail

I used to have a gross distaste for Cipo and his personality and rooted against him always. Then I saw him in person at the Tour de Georgia and got a different attitude about him. He was incredibly friendly to the fans and was cracking jokes on his way up the climb to Brasstown Bald. It was hilarious. So, I think I have to pull for him. Plus, I didn't start road riding until I was 32 years old, so I'm pulling for the old guys too (Ekimov comes to mind.)

bac

I'd like to see Cipo win a few of those battles. I think he will use his age, and experience to overcome what he's lost physically. That will allow him to take one, or two from the P-train.

ZackJones

Head to head I think Petacchi would beat Cippo, but I'd be rooting for Cippo.

gcasillo

Ale-Jet. Best closer in the sport right now, though Boonen is looking sharp early this season.

Gustaf

on the bike: Petacchi
off the bike: Cipo

Laggard

But of course.

Peta's the fastest road rider in the world right now. When he gets it perfect, there's no one who can beat him.

DieselDan

Cippolini. He had the class to come to the US and race last year (Tour de Georgia, won stage 2 even).

MacMan

Gotta root for Cipo ... how couldn't you? Now, if it was Cipo in his prime ... that would be a head-to-head I'd love to see. E5 vs. the Dawgma ... pure rock 'n' roll.

ed073

gotta root for Re Leone.....even if I think Petacchi will beat him in 9 sprints out of 10.

HigherGround

I like both sprinters, but I want to see the Lion King go out with a roar rather than a meow. He hasn't been perfect (who is?), but his flamboyance and panache have added a lot to the sport over the years. I'll miss him after he retires, whenever that may be.

roadwarrior

This month's Cycle Sport is dedicated to the sprinters....a lot of info on both riders as well as Boonen, and Danilo Hondo It sounds like Mario has re-dedicated himself to training and really trying to win stages so the Giro should be interesting..

If we get to see much of it....

Belugadave

I would love to see Cippo, or anyone for that matter, beat Petacchi in a head to head sprint. I think it would just bring a lot more excitement to pro racing. Petacchi has just been unbelievable and incredible, but it got old last year when he won every sprint he was in contention for. Has anyone beat him when it's head to head? It seems like someone is going to have to have as good or a better train to lead them out than Petacchi has. Last year, everyone was fighting for Petacchi's wheel or his trains wheel. Why don't they get their own?

Gustaf

Fred Rodriguez beat him last year in a Giro stage

53-11_alltheway

I don't know too much about racing, but Pettachi's pure power is impressive.

His Dogma is inspiring. Mavic needs a new graphic designer though.

When is he going to be racing next?. I'll catch it on cyclying.tv

ed073

that bike gives me wood.

bdaghisallo

Cipollini is arguably the greatest pure road sprinter in the history of the sport. If you look at his longevity and the breadth of his victories, not many can rival him. Darrigade in the fifties and sixties is one possibly. Cipo has been winning stages in major tours since 1989. He has won classics and a world title. Other sprinters have come and gone and been as brilliant as him, but no one has maintained that level for anywhere near as long as he has. Abdujapourov, Maertens, Basso, Van Linden, Poblet and the like have been good for a time, but none rival Cipo. Zabel has been as consistent but he was never as fast as Cipo.

Petacchi is the new sprinter par excellence but he has a long way to go to match the man. If he can maintain this pace for another eight to nine years and win a few classics, he will get there. The times that Fassa have delivered him to the line in a classic that should suit him, he has failed to deliver!

gcasillo

Call me ignorant, but does Petacchi have a chance to win this year's World's? I recall reading about some riders (Freire I think) reconnoitering the course and declaring it a free for all because it is flatter. I agree that Cipo's palmares is better, and a WC would really help Petacchi in this regard.

gcasillo

Nevermind, it's in Madrid. The Spaniards are gonna kick arse again.

ed073

give Freire his fourth now, save all the bother.

53-11_alltheway

I really want to see this guy in action. When does he race next?

Do you guys know what date?

Thanks

ed073

Watch for him at Milan-San Remo. March 19

He'll be amongst the favourites.