Mario Cipollini gets naked to promote mystery bike
Italian former pro Mario Cipollini proves he's still adept at generating publicity
Mario Cipollini continues to cause a stir in the cycling community despite being retired from pro racing.
The 50-year-old flamboyant former Italian sprinter posted a photograph of himself riding one of his Cipollini bikes wearing nothing but shoes, socks, gloves and a cycling helmet.
Never one to shy away from a bit of showmanship, Cipollini was using the image to tease viewers about a new bike.
The bike itself was obscured, but ‘Super Mario’ looks like he has been keeping himself in shape since finally retiring in 2008.
“We got naked … And soon we’ll show her too” Cipollini said in a caption next to the image.
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The image was posted along with another photo and a short video for Cipollini bikes, the brand he started in 2010.
During his pro career from 1989 to 2008 Cipollini amassed a total of 191 victories, including 42 stages of the Giro d’Italia, 12 in the Tour de France and three in the Vuelta a España. No rider has ever won more Giro stages.
Among his one-day race victories he counts the 2002 road race world championship and 2002 Milan-San Remo.