Biography of Mario Cipollini

Specialty: flying

March 22, 1967
Mario Cipollini, nicknamed by the fans Lion King or SuperMario, was the Prince of Italian sprinter in cycling. Born on 22 March of 1967 in Lucca, began to sweat on the saddle of a bike since childhood, not retracting never even faced with enormous sacrifices (don't forget that every cyclist wants to call himself with dignity must make a certain number of kilometres a day, an activity that absorbs much energy and above all a very long time). The fruits of these efforts will be happily rewarded with extraordinary career that saw him star.
Pro since 1989, Mario Cipollini has now been able to find space between more established Champions by virtue of his daring and spectacular victories in the Sprint on the most anticipated milestones. That's his specialty, the Sprint. Cipollini was able to ride "souplesse" for hundreds of kilometres (possibly remaining even a little behind in the uphill sections), then redeem himself with lightning fast accelerations that most often left literally to the pole his opponents. And often it was possible to observe the typical Tuscan cyclist WINS photographs, intent on turning right on the finish line to appreciate the distance gained between him and the other runners. Cipollini until 2002, has gone from ben 115 WINS (especially with the team "Water & Soap" Cantina Tollo "and" R "), of which eight are in a special way: the stage of the tour of the Mediterranean, the stage of San Benedetto del Tronto in the Tirreno Adriatico, Milan San Remo, Ghent-Wevelgem and the stages of Munster, Esch-surAlzette, Caserta and Conegliano Italy's round of 85. After announcing his retirement from the sport, in October 2002 the cyclist surprised everyone with an impressive exploit: the ripe old age of 35 years (certainly not just for an athlete), won at Zolder, Belgium, the 69th Edition of the professional world championship on the road. A victory that wowed the fans and that came ten years after the success of another big industry, Gianni Bugno.
Cipollini, with this world title, Crown an extraordinary career in which twinkle 181 hits, including 40 stages of the tour of Italy, 12 of the Tour de France, three of the Vuelta and the prestigious Milan-San Remo. With an appealing, his strong personality and some behaviors estrosi they soon turned into a star. Not only she posed in a demure nude for a famous brand of shoes, but often ended up on the covers of various magazines are not always due to his sporting achievements. Not only that, I mean, really love women, but his sharp tongue has also exhibited at the center of controversy, such as when you are allowed to criticize the State of modern cycling.
However, beyond its not easy character, is well loved by both the fans who by his colleagues because of his outspokenness and his Immaculate, that is far from any suspicion of using banned substances or doping substances. During the tour of Italy 2003, despite having been beaten several times in the Sprint by his worthy successor, Alessandro Petacchi, SuperMario broke the legendary record that belonged for many years to Alfredo Binda, reaching number 42 stages of the Giro's won in his career. Married, father of two daughters, Mario Cipollini resides in the Principality of Monaco. In 38 years, after 17 seasons as a professional and 189 victories, the Lion King has come down from the bike: the April 26, 2005, a few days before the start of the tour of Italy, announced his retirement from the world of sport competitions.
Article contributed by the team of collaborators.