Mario Cipollini may have retired for good in 2008 when he pulled out of the Rock Racing team but even at 42, he couldn’t resist getting on his bike and riding with the Giro d'Italia peloton on Friday.
Cipo joined the peloton for a few miles near his home in Lucca and then jumped ahead to the finish in Florence to see Mark Cavendish win his third stage of this year’s race.
Cipollini is a big Cavendish fan and thanks to Max Sciandri, the two went training together several times during the winter.
Cipollini is occasionally critical of Cavendish in his blog published every day in Gazzetta dello Sport during the Giro but only because he wants him to be as successful as possible.
“I think Cavendish is a huge talent,” Cipollini told Cycling Weekly after seeing Cavendish win yet again in Florence.
Mario Cipollini talks to Britain's Charly Wegelius
“He’s a going to be a great sprint ‘campione’. He wasn’t at his best when he started the Giro but like all the great riders, he’s got better and better, and still won when he’s not at his best.”
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“He’s still got things to learn but he’s special. You have to be special when you win Milan-San Remo at your first attempt and then come to the Giro not at his best and beat people like Petacchi and everybody else.”
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Giro d'Italia 2009 links
Stage reports
Stage 13: Cavendish takes his third Giro win and prepares to head home
Stage 12: Menchov storms to Giro TT win and race lead
Stage 11: Cavendish romps to second Giro stage win
Stage 10: Di Luca lays down the gauntlet
Giro rest day review (May 18)
Stage nine: Cavendish blitzes rivals to win in Milan
Stage eight: Siutsou makes it two in a row for Columbia-Highroad
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