Ricco to return Again..

Doobz

He is like a gift that keeps on Giving"

The Cobra has announced his return for the next 6 February.
In the last period he was frankly a little 'lost track, but today Riccardo Riccò has decided to return to talk about, announcing that it will return the next Grand Prix race in Donoratico Etruscan Coast scheduled Feb. 6. The cobra is limited only to say that his debut but did not specify anything else. The team should be the Meridiana Kamen Antonio Giallorenzo, Riccò team with which he had to run from last year's Tour of Serbia. Ricco could also be found in-law Henry Smith with whom he raced with the Flaminia. Among others, the Meridian has also hired Maurizio Biondo.
Now assume a return of at least Riccò is fantastic but seeing who it gtratta surprises are always around the corner, when two things are certain, the first is that Meridian wants Giallorenzo registering any really and he never made any secret , the second is rich and awaiting trial for the story on its admission to hospital following a transfusion and that the Olympic Committee has asked for him 12 years of disqualification. Today Ricco threw the stone in the pond, from tomorrow we'll see the reaction to this gesture.

http://www.cyclingworld.it/it/ultime-no ... simo-bluff

rozzer32

Oh god.

Has he not done enough damage already??

pottssteve

Forget, "The Cobra", he should change his nickname to Lazarus....

B3rnieMac

That a team is still willing to hire this man makes me honestly despair for this sport.

RichN95.

I wouldn't worry. Regardless of what Ricky might say, there's as much chance of me being in a pro race as him.

shinyhelmut

pottssteve wrote:

Forget, "The Cobra", he should change his nickname to Lazarus....

Maybe "The Hydra"

TMR

If it was OK for David Millar, it should be OK for Ricardo Ricco as well. Only on the basis he is racing clean obviously.

gmb

I'm always surprised at myself for the amount of hate I have for Ricco. I don't know him personally, have never heard him say anything I was particularly offended by and I really enjoyed watching him destroy the competition in the Tour (obviously with the help of banned substances/transfusions).

The thing is, there are other riders who have doped and come back etc. that I cannot bring myself to dislike. Tyler Hamilton being the main one.

What is it about Ricco and his ego (nothing unusual in pro sport there) which causes such high emotions?

TMR

GMB wrote:

What is it about Ricco and his ego (nothing unusual in pro sport there) which causes such high emotions?

I think he has one of those faces you just naturally want to punch. He always comes across as a tool in every interview I've seen as well. It's one thing to be confident off the back off success through hard work, but quite another to be arrogant off the back of a cheated victory.

greasedscotsman

Can't help but think this is Frank Vandenbroucke all over again.

shinyhelmut

greasedscotsman wrote:

Can't help but think this is Frank Vandenbroucke all over again.

Vandenbrouke, Pantani, Jiminez. Unlike some posters I don't "hate" Ricco, I do feel though that cycling is best off without Ricco and that Ricco is probably best off without cycling.

sherer

surely he must be banned anyway after everything he has done. Maybe that is the bigger issue that he can return at all

iainf72

The Mad Rapper wrote:

If it was OK for David Millar, it should be OK for Ricardo Ricco as well. Only on the basis he is racing clean obviously.

I think if you get banned and come back, that's fine and with in the rules. If you come back and then cause renal failure by tranfusing poorly stored blood, then that's really not ok.

TMR

iainf72 wrote:

I think if you get banned and come back, that's fine and with in the rules. If you come back and then cause renal failure by tranfusing poorly stored blood, then that's really not ok.

I take your point Iain, but if he were to have genuinely turned over a new leaf, would you still feel the same way? Quite honestly I think that's wishful thinking on my part, but do I love a 'bad guy turned good' story!

iainf72

The Mad Rapper wrote:

I take your point Iain, but if he were to have genuinely turned over a new leaf, would you still feel the same way? Quite honestly I think that's wishful thinking on my part, but do I love a 'bad guy turned good' story!

Sure, it's within the rules. I dislike Cavendish and Ricco about equally, but I'd never suggest Cavendish shouldn't race just because I'm not a fan.

yourpaceormine

sherer wrote:

surely he must be banned anyway after everything he has done. Maybe that is the bigger issue that he can return at all

Hits the nail on the head really. 'Once' can be forgiven but repeat offending... :roll:

dougzz

Why so much hate for someone that could calculate his IQ with his socks off. For me personally there's something far less sinister in Ricco than in several of the other riders that we all know dope/have doped, but don't get caught, or caught in circumstances that with the right lawyers and a less than consistent UCI still ride and win GTs when they should be at home with their feet up pondering where it all went wrong.

rick_chasey

I totally don't care about Ricco.

Never did, even when he nearly killed himself.

He was good fun to watch, and now we know why. Beyond that, nothing.

cal_stewart

I'm with Dougzz on this

Yellow Peril

I can't hate him. I find him fairly comedic. He's like the Man City of dopers.

I also get the feeling with Ricco that it will end tragically in a hotel room somewhere ala Pantani/Vandenbroucke, don't you?

frenchfighter

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/10948 ... -2012.aspx

takethehighroad

After seeing Marco Pantani kill himself, this news worries me. I pray no one has Ricco as an idol

Doobz

TakeTheHighRoad wrote:

After seeing Marco Pantani kill himself, this news worries me. I pray no one has Ricco as an idol

He's no idol of mine but I do give him 10/10 for craftyness

The license number 2787 of the Croatian Cycling Federation is that of Riccardo Ricco . The Italian rider sulfur, initially announced at Amore & Vita-Conad is registered as a member of the Croatian team Meridian Kamen who has never hidden his desire to engage the services of the cyclist Alps.

The Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) ordered a suspension of 12 years for Ricco, who had self-transfused blood last winter and which, according to the medical staff, have cost him his life. A hearing against the National Anti-Doping Tribunal (TNA) is scheduled on February 3.

http://www.cyclismactu.net/news-divers- ... 21838.html

jimmythecuckoo

After seeing Valverde shed some crocodile tears at the TDU, I don't think I hate Ricco that much anymore.

zippypablo

According to velonation his licence application has been refused as he doesn't live in Croatia.

Doobz

zippypablo wrote:

According to velonation his licence application has been refused as he doesn't live in Croatia.

Maybe he has some blood stored there.. Does that count?

cogidubnus

Has the man no shame?

symo

Don't like him, he IS A KNOB!. Anyone who tries to justify cheating and publicly states that they are always trying to bend the rules deserves a life ban.

Little sh!t needs a kicking by the rest of the peloton.

cal_stewart

For some mental reason I like him. Pure Soap Opera