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Cipollini, Mario
Cipressa
Colnago, Ernesto
Cross-country cycling
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Behind the exterior of eccentric bird of paradise and socialite from Lucca in Tuscany, was one of the most successful professional cyclists of all time, whose number of victories (189) was topped only by Erik Zabel (194). The career of the super sprinter, a true sprinter of the classic variety, began with the Del Tongo - Colnago squadra in 1989. Over the next 17 years of his professional career, he was the only one to emerge with 57 one-day victories on three major national tours, including three on the Vuelta Ciclista a Espana (Tour of Spain), twelve on the Tour de France and 42 on the Giro d’Italia - in doing so, matching the historic record of his countryman, Alfredo Binda. In 2002, “Cipo” saw a long-cherished wish come true when he won Milan-San Remo a day after his 35th Birthday and later - in the autumn of the same year and of his career – went on to win the world championship in the Belgian town of Zolder. He ended his career aged 38 shortly before the Giro d’Italia 2005. “Re Leone”, “Il Magnifico”, “Super Mario” – Mario Cipollini had a number of nicknames – he is dubbed the inventor of the ”sprint train“. This consists of greased-lightning colleagues favourably piloting their final stage sprint captain through to the home straight. Since then, the profile of mass arrivals has changed. Naturally Milram’s sprint ace Alessandro Petacchi has also had his own sprint train for years. Fabio Sacchi, Alberto Ongarato and Marco Velo are hardcore “Ale-Jets” sprint finishers.
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