Ricco

avoidingmyphd

Interesting trail for forthcoming procycling interview with Ricco here:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ricco-e ... redemption

It seems he thinks that the way to characterise cheating is as "something that happened TO him", rather than something he did himself, and any regrets he has are because the WAY in which he was exposed was humiliating.

With this in mind, I think it's fair to say he's wrong to predict that whether he can win over the fans or not depends on his results on the bike...

greasedscotsman

I find it shocking that he says "If I start winning again, people won’t even remember what happened to me – the same thing that happened to lots of other riders".

I think alot of people will remember...

frenchfighter

He is a little idiot, however exciting his attacks were. I don't think he is well liked in the peloton either.

Garry H

avoidingmyphd wrote:

Interesting trail for forthcoming procycling interview with Ricco here:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ricco-e ... redemption

It seems he thinks that the way to characterise cheating is as "something that happened TO him", rather than something he did himself, and any regrets he has are because the WAY in which he was exposed was humiliating.

He may not actually be that far away from the truth. If, as anecdotal "evidence" might suggest, he was exposed to PEDs from an early age, then he may have a point and that he is, to some degree at least, the "victim", as well as the "perpetrator". He's still a tool though.

afx237vi

Agree with what Garry said. I don't think 15 year old amateurs go out and buy EPO on their own accord, no matter how cocky they are.

Personally I don't understand the hate towards him. He's young, he's outspoken, he's uber-talented... people use those adjectives to describe Cavendish in a good way. Apart from the drug taking, what's the difference? He's done his two years, he's admitted his wrongdoing and co-operated with the authorities FAR more than other riders - I'm looking forward to seeing him race again.

frenchfighter

There is no denying he is a superb rider to watch. It will be interesting to see if he is flat like Basso on his return...

Stuey01

afx237vi wrote:

Agree with what Garry said. I don't think 15 year old amateurs go out and buy EPO on their own accord, no matter how cocky they are.

Personally I don't understand the hate towards him. He's young, he's outspoken, he's uber-talented... people use those adjectives to describe Cavendish in a good way. Apart from the drug taking, what's the difference? He's done his two years, he's admitted his wrongdoing and co-operated with the authorities FAR more than other riders - I'm looking forward to seeing him race again.

A lot of people use those adjectives to descride Cavendish in a negative way too.

Apart from the drug taking
Perhaps that IS the reason? Does there need to be another one?

afx237vi

Stuey01 wrote:

afx237vi wrote:

Agree with what Garry said. I don't think 15 year old amateurs go out and buy EPO on their own accord, no matter how cocky they are.

Personally I don't understand the hate towards him. He's young, he's outspoken, he's uber-talented... people use those adjectives to describe Cavendish in a good way. Apart from the drug taking, what's the difference? He's done his two years, he's admitted his wrongdoing and co-operated with the authorities FAR more than other riders - I'm looking forward to seeing him race again.

A lot of people use those adjectives to descride Cavendish in a negative way too.

Apart from the drug taking
Perhaps that IS the reason? Does there need to be another one?

Some people use those terms to describe Cavendish in a negative way, yes, but I'd say they're outnumbered by the positive uses.

OTOH, I don't think many people ever saw Ricco's brashness as a good thing, even when he first appeared on the scene, way before we knew about CERA and all that. People just took an instant dislike to him. Which is odd, really.

FF has a point, though. Ricco could well come back and spend the year riding like a sack of potatoes, a la Flandis.

Echo et les Boniments

frenchfighter wrote:

He is a little idiot

You know in July 2008 I was in Italy when the Ricco/Piepoli pair got kicked out of the Tour. I remember an article in a serious, respectable newspaper, was it La Stampa, an article entitled Marco would have used CERA. So, no, Ricco ain't a little idiot, I guess he's just a little more cynical and a little less of an hypocrite than his pairs. I dunno if you understand Italian but try listen to him, Ricco's actually funny, clever, articulate. Then for sure, he is a smart ass and he likes being provocative and, yes, some people will hate him for this and, no, he doesn't give a sh*t about the whys and hows.

Ricco doesn't want to be a well-liked rider. Ricco wants to be Pantani. He wants to be a star. He's a working class kid who decided cycling would make him rich and famous.. This is Italy, this is a place where cycling can still make you a king, it can still take you from rags to riches -if you want to make it and you've got what it takes and you are ready to train hard and take what you have to take (!)... And Ricco's quite pissed about what happened in 2008 cos' he was about to become one of Italy's main sport stars and instead he lost two years because his doc told him CERA would be untraceable -and it wasn't.
And Ricco doesn't feel he did anything wrong -his doc did. Now he's back with a vengeance: it's do or die... That may well be absurd but that's his frame of mind and like it or not, that's the way most Italian top pros see the world: you banned me? I served my time and now I want another shot at glory...
So next year Ricco will try not to be caught again, he will try to win races, he will get fans and haters, he will be talked about. In Italy he will try to be a star again. And to him this is all that matters.

disgruntledgoat

I thought he was great when he first "came out" at Tirreno Adriatico, his appeal waned somewhat through the Giro when it was revealed he had all the class and tactical nous of said sack of potatoes, went even further south when he was busted at the Tour then somehow he undermined even that by laughing in the face of the testers saying they should have caught him about 6 other times.

At least Cavendish thanks his team, maybe I just lose something in translation not being familiar with Italian language or culture. However, everybody connected with pro-cycling seemed to dislike Ricco, Cav seems to at least inspire respect.

Anyway, list of reasons to dislike Ricco

That white suit he wore to the 2008 Giro route presentation
CERA (obv.)
Bleached hair
Rat-like features
Complete lack of respect for anybody
Tactical idiocy in clear contravention of team orders (if you're going to try and dish your leader and mentor, you've got to make it stick)

frenchfighter

Echo, good post as usual.

As I said previously I think he is a superb rider to watch. I don't particularly like him as a person but then that doesn't really bother me much anyway with him.

I see your point about wanting to be a star and the points that follow. I know about him wanting to emulate Pantani which is why he climbs like him.

No I don't know Italian and likely never will. I'm half French.

If he comes back with a bone to pick then good - it will make for a spectacle.

But then you have Contador who can match Ricco in the mountains and crush him everywhere else. He has a ton more money than Ricco ever will, he will be around longer than Ricco will, he has more respect that Ricco has, he has more friends in the peloton than Ricco ever will.

He has this as well as being humble and quiet.

Who would you rather be?

blazing_saddles

Refreshingly free from the usual PR bullsh*t.
He'll be back and racing, avec le juice du jour.
So, either he gets close to the Maglia Rosa, or Pat's passport pops him for a life spot.

That's about the sum of it for all returnees and the lucky others.

Doobz

hope we see a bit of him this year.. the dude has some talent. Lets just hope he can be a great rider without the PEDS

Kléber

He was exciting to the watch but this could be said of many riders if you doped them to the gills. He'll be under close scrutiny from fans, the media as well as CONI and the UCI. We'll see how exciting he is when he returns but frankly I'd rather the media focused on real riders, not those who cheat and cut corners.

calvjones

frenchfighter wrote:

Echo, good post as usual.

As I said previously I think he is a superb rider to watch. I don't particularly like him as a person but then that doesn't really bother me much anyway with him.

I see your point about wanting to be a star and the points that follow. I know about him wanting to emulate Pantani which is why he climbs like him.

No I don't know Italian and likely never will. I'm half French.

If he comes back with a bone to pick then good - it will make for a spectacle.

But then you have Contador who can match Ricco in the mountains and crush him everywhere else. He has a ton more money than Ricco ever will, he will be around longer than Ricco will, he has more respect that Ricco has, he has more friends in the peloton than Ricco ever will.

He has this as well as being humble and quiet.

And he never quite got caught

Who would you rather be?

Fixed that for you there FF

So when would you bet on Bertie riding the giro next?

teagar

Kléber wrote:

He was exciting to the watch but this could be said of many riders if you doped them to the gills. He'll be under close scrutiny from fans, the media as well as CONI and the UCI. We'll see how exciting he is when he returns but frankly I'd rather the media focused on real riders, not those who cheat and cut corners.

Riders who cut corners eh?

le_patron

Great pic, not seen that angle before.

frenchfighter

The Italian was speeding down the descent of Serramazzoni when he encountered a bus coming from the opposite direction.

Riccò swerved to prevent a collision and hit the deck. His bike went under the bus and was completely destroyed, while the rider suffered cuts and bruises. He is expected to be sidelined for several days.

Velonation.

He is back on 17th March with Ceramica Flaminia-Bossini Docce.

wicked

Am I the only one who liked him? Before he got caught with his hand in the cookie jar that is.

ms_tree

AFX you could also be discribing Armstrong couldn't you?
Echo try as he might Ricco will NEVER be Pantani. Nessuno come Marco

afx237vi

Ms Tree wrote:

AFX you could also be discribing Armstrong couldn't you?
Echo try as he might Ricco will NEVER be Pantani. Nessuno come Marco

Fair point, that. The young Armstrong was about a popular as the pre-CERA Ricco, wasn't he? Both heavily criticised for their brashness, lack of respect etc.

Ricco has shown some humility since he was busted, though. The 2009 Armstrong is not that different to the 1993 one.

northernneil

disgruntledgoat wrote:

Anyway, list of reasons to dislike Ricco

That white suit he wore to the 2008 Giro route presentation
CERA (obv.)
Bleached hair
Rat-like features

[/b]

Le Commentateur

And he wears those dreadful Crocs™.

disgruntledgoat

northernneil wrote:

disgruntledgoat wrote:

Anyway, list of reasons to dislike Ricco

That white suit he wore to the 2008 Giro route presentation
CERA (obv.)
Bleached hair
Rat-like features

[/b]

I'm just telling it like it is!

As for him nearly being hit by a bus... what do you suppose those white lines, commonly painted in the centre of roads, signify?

Garry H

Ms Tree wrote:

Echo try as he might Ricco will NEVER be Pantani. Nessuno come Marco

Not now he won't. Got busted far too early in his career :roll:

jerry3571

I have to agree with Frenchfighter and ask what sort of Ricco will return. Vino has tried to come back and is lacking, Basso is a shadow of his former self. Will Ricco buck the trend and get back to business as usual??
I like his aggression; I guess you can be agressive when you're off your head on dope. Hmmm...
I like to be an aggresive rider too but everyone else seems quicker than me :?
I aggressiviely hang on to the back, yep! that's me!! Who's the Daddy!!
-jerry

Philip S

disgruntledgoat wrote:

Anyway, list of reasons to dislike Ricco

That white suit he wore to the 2008 Giro route presentation
CERA (obv.)
Bleached hair
Rat-like features
Complete lack of respect for anybody
Tactical idiocy in clear contravention of team orders (if you're going to try and dish your leader and mentor, you've got to make it stick)

A good list, but you forgot the hit-me face. Unless, of course, you feel the urge to hit rats in the face.

Ricco's key attribute seemed to be his ability to sprint away on the drops on the steeper climbs, a la Pantani. On the basis that such attacks seem to be indicators of a system full of PEDs, just how likely is he to be able to do that without the PEDs? I can't see it myself. .

frenchfighter

At last some attractive team bikes.

Doobz

very nice bikes. Kinda liking his black jersey also. Looks like it would fit me too.
I am really looking forward to seeing Ricco in action again.

Kléber

Hey, a "man in black"

A shame Flaminia are getting publicity, the media focusses on him instead of the others. Let's hope he can reform his ways.

pedro118118

As the rules stand, he's served his ban and is entitled to ride again (within the rules) - same as the other former dopers in the peleton, including the rather more articulate David Millar. Seems charm paves the way for forgiveness.

Unlikely he'll be able to demolish the peleton again, as he did at the 2008 Tour, but we'll have to wait and see.

Personally, I though his honesty was an intersting perspective. I think his comments on certain riders being like 'vegetables' was pretty close to the truth - drones with radios.