Snuffleupagus

I'm sixty-five in the knees and twenty-five in the brain.

carpediemracing 

He wished all sons to me and my new wife. So I decided I like him.

cdr

obstacle

I don't find Cipo racing again sad. It's actually pretty cool. I was never a huge fan of him but i respect that he has come back at 41 and is hanging with the current crop of top riders. He's doing an amazing job.

What I find sad is someone like Cipo, one of the top riders in the world, one of the biggest and best know names in cycling and a former world champion...racing on a lowly US continental team. I'm not slamming the US pro-tour at all. it's just someone like Cipo having to resort to this is sad. It doesn't seem like anyone is twisting his arm to ride for the team, in fact from what I've read and seen he seems to enjoy it and is taking it seriously...and that is showing on the bike.

HigherGround

Cipo's cool and I'm glad he's back.

Dubbayoo

It's not like he's racing for US criterium money. I bet Ball threw a suitcase of cash at him.

obstacle

Well ball has major plans for that team, so he says. I'm sure he is throwing a ton of cash at anyone who will take it. I wouldn't be shocked, if he decides to stay in cycling for a bit, that he buys his team into the Pro-Tour...

When I read that he wants to have riders like Frank and Andy Schleck... it became obvious what he plans to do and how he plans to do it. He has money falling out of his Bentley.

ed073

+1.

tsgrab

Cipo's not the only ex pro tour rider on the team. Fast Freddie is also there.

obstacle

Fast Freddie, while a great rider, is hardly the level Cipo was/is.

bac

+1

... Brad

obstacle

To add to that too. I don't have issue with what Ball is trying to do with Rock Racing. I do find the whole skulls/bad boy thing sorta sad, cycling isn't skateboarding or choppers and cycling's demographic isn't 13 year old gnar-gnar boys (and it never will be regardless of how successful RR is)...but whatever, there is a kitsch value to it and it is something different then the other teams currently out there. Maybe it will appeal to someone out there that previously has never looked at road racing, but that is limited too.

Having Cipo on the team has already worked it's magic as Rock Racing scored itself some invites to other races. If they score more big names it will only add to that momentum to all of that.

And finally for Cipo...it really is cool to see him up there racing strongly against the Tom Boonen and Fabian Cancellaras in the Pro-Tour. Good for him at 41, regardless of his motives.

It almost makes me wish Delgado or Miguel Indurain would come back for another go around. Now that would be fun. Indurain is only about 3 years older the Cipo and the last time I saw hime (2004 Vuelta a Espańa) he looked like he could still ride...Pedro on the other hand looks worst for wear and is pushing the big 50 soon.

Maybe Nike will convince Lance to return. Wouldn't Trek be happy about that! Nothing like cashing in. Cha-Ching. I bet Lance has a voicemail (or four) from Ball as well.

Speaking of which. Who wants to bet Jan Ulrich, Floyd, Basso, Vino and guys like that all have voicemails from Michael Ball?

Speedee

As far as I know, cycling has never tried to appeal to that demographic the way RR is. When I was a teen, I thought cycling was pretty gay, but if RR makes it cool - like skateboarding, you never know...

Brandy

I totally agree Speedy.

obstacle

I grew up as a skater and snowboarder...that also was into road racing. I was an odd ball and NO ONE I knew when I was 13 thought cycling was even remotely interesting. Now-a-days it's even worst. I teach at various skating clinics around NYC, helping kids learn things, and your average 13 year old skater now-a-days is even LESS open to anything like cycling.

Plus the schtick that Rock Racing is using, the sponsors, branding and vibe is target (it seems to me) more towards the "bad boy" wannabees in their early 30s. The sponsors of Rock Racing alone would turn off a 13 year old skater. But a 40 year old cat 3 guy who wants to seem tough they nailed it.

But again, RR is doing something new...cool for them. I'm just unsure of Ball's intentions and longevity....

dmotoguy

from bikesnobnyc:

" But unless Mario Cipollini seriously injures himself in a tragic hair gel-related slip-and-fall and the entire world rallies behind him as he attempts to regain the use of his p*nis, the only people watching road racing are road racers."

lolz

velorapide

I like the guy at the end giving Cipo advice.... "stay on Freddie's wheel, he knows the course..." Give me a break man. Like he needs your input.

obliterator

I think mike ball offered his soul to cipo.

ExMachina

there's nothing sad about a pro cyclist who genuinely appears happy to be racing.

the truly sad thing is the number of pros who are out there and NOT enjoying what they do.

Treefox

He he! Like the sort who lives in suburbia with a nagging wife and snotty kids who thinks he's 'bad' because he's got a black Lincoln Navigator with tinted windows.