Andreau leaves Rock & Republic

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Jan 18:
"He's a good friend, he gives me great advice, and our relationship will continue into the future whether it's in business, or racing, or just as friendship. We will be friends forever," Ball said. "This guy is a true rock star. Man, I have my moments, but this guy puts me to shame, let me tell you. He is fantastic, a lot of fun."
Jan 19:
However by the end of the day it seems that Cipollini and charismatic Rock Racing owner Micheal Ball had already fallen out, contracts may never be signed and Cipollini might have to put his bike back in the garage.Wow! This is worse than some of those reality dating shows and probably on par with Britney's first marriage!

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/Is_Cipollinis_comeback_already_over_article_174817.html

Could Mario Cipollini's comeback be over before it even began?

On Friday morning the Italian Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper claimed that Cipollini would come out of retirement and ride the Tour of California for the US Rock Racing team before becoming manager of a Monaco-based part of the team.

However by the end of the day it seems that Cipollini and charismatic Rock Racing owner Micheal Ball had already fallen out, contracts may never be signed and Cipollini might have to put his bike back in the garage.

Cipollini admitted there were problems with the new team on Italian radio.

“It's going to be a difficult birth, let's see what happens,” Cipollini said via phone from Santa Monica.

“We're discussing things and sifting through things but compared to two days ago things have become more difficult. Something has happened. We'll see if we manage to save the baby but it's going to be a difficult birth.”

The Rock Racing team has already cancelled a press conference planned for Monday January 21 and Cipollini has apparently decided to return to Italy on Sunday rather than stay, as planned, until the end of the month.

More later
Money issues.

More interesting tid-bits on Mario's status (from CN):


Ball has made controversial contracts with riders involved in past doping scandal. Maybe Cipollini, like Frankie Andreu before him, is finding the waters to be rocky. "I was clear with him on [Oscar] Sevilla, [Santiago] Botero and [Tyler] Hamilton, who he has already signed. I said to Ball that it is not the right way to interpret cycling, that these riders would never be able to race in a European team. He gave me his reasoning, that they would only race in America. However, they take from the staff new requests, like 'Cipollini has to be a manager also in the USA, he has to transfer here for some time.' For this reason I no longer understand any of it."

More interesting tid-bits on Mario's status (from CN):


Ball has made controversial contracts with riders involved in past doping scandal. Maybe Cipollini, like Frankie Andreu before him, is finding the waters to be rocky. "I was clear with him on [Oscar] Sevilla, [Santiago] Botero and [Tyler] Hamilton, who he has already signed. I said to Ball that it is not the right way to interpret cycling, that these riders would never be able to race in a European team. He gave me his reasoning, that they would only race in America. However, they take from the staff new requests, like 'Cipollini has to be a manager also in the USA, he has to transfer here for some time.' For this reason I no longer understand any of it."Once again, Ball seems to be clueless. From earlier in this thread, "Races that Ball is said to be interested in, like the Giro d’Italia or Milan-San Remo...", and now he is only interested in racing in America? That aside, assuming that a team would only race in USA, one would expect the team manager to be in USA, right? I don't quite understand what Cippollini is saying...

Once again, Ball seems to be clueless. From earlier in this thread, "Races that Ball is said to be interested in, like the Giro d’Italia or Milan-San Remo...", and now he is only interested in racing in America? That aside, assuming that a team would only race in USA, one would expect the team manager to be in USA, right? I don't quite understand what Cippollini is saying...After reading the article on CN (http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2008/jan08/jan20news), I got the impression that Ball told Cipo "sure, you can have free rein to set up a European racing program and be our manager there" (or at least that's what Cipo understood), and that now that Cipo sees that Ball is only a continental team (so can't race the PT races) /that Ball has hired riders that (allegedly) wouldn't be welcome to ride in Europe/that Ball is now saying the team will only ride in America such that Cipo would have to move to America, that Cipollini is confused and no longer really interested. Perhaps these 2 dominant personalities simply can't co-exist...

After reading the article on CN (http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2008/jan08/jan20news), I got the impression that Ball told Cipo "sure, you can have free rein to set up a European racing program and be our manager there" (or at least that's what Cipo understood), and that now that Cipo sees that Ball is only a continental team (so can't race the PT races) /that Ball has hired riders that (allegedly) wouldn't be welcome to ride in Europe/that Ball is now saying the team will only ride in America such that Cipo would have to move to America, that Cipollini is confused and no longer really interested. Perhaps these 2 dominant personalities simply can't co-exist...Perhap's Ball's 3rd grade school report said..."Doesn't play well with others"

Just out of interest ..... if the riders are either still 'innocent' or have served their full punishments and are now 'clean' would it not be seen as a restraint of trade if they are refused rides in Europe?

Maybe Ball should go to the EU court of arbitration if his team are not allowed to race in Europe.

Also if his team will ride 'dirty' being in Europe is the best and quickest way to get caught and thrown out!

Cipo has signed!

http://www.gazzetta.it/Ciclismo/Primo_Piano/2008/01_Gennaio/20/firmacipolla.shtml

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/Cipollini_signs_with_Rock_Racing_article_174887.html

Cipo has signed!

http://www.gazzetta.it/Ciclismo/Primo_Piano/2008/01_Gennaio/20/firmacipolla.shtml

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/Cipollini_signs_with_Rock_Racing_article_174887.htmlThis does clarify some of the issues that were confusing yesterday. I found this paragraph in the cycling news article interesting: "Cycling Weekly understands that other problems are gathering on the horizon that could dramatically affect the team's future but controversy and polemics seem to be the way both Ball and Rock Racing like to do things.". What are these other problems that are on the horizon?

Cipo will be at ToC, BUT:


"The 40-year-old speedster "is not coming back to try and win," said lawyer Giuseppe Napoleone, according to the Ansa news agency. "He's done everything he needed to do. That's not the aim,""

I'm gonna go ahead and predict some major hangover rides for Mario during the Tour.

Personally I think it's rather sad that Cippo - being 40 years of age - has now got to get back on his bike to earn a crust.

Cipo will be at ToC, BUT:


"The 40-year-old speedster "is not coming back to try and win," said lawyer Giuseppe Napoleone, according to the Ansa news agency. "He's done everything he needed to do. That's not the aim,""

I'm gonna go ahead and predict some major hangover rides for Mario during the Tour.
...and the odd poduim girl walking about with a limp.....

_______
Michael Ball, CEO and head designer of Rock & Republic fashion jeans and owner of the new Rock Racing Team, has hired several riders who have served suspensions for doping, including 2004 Olympic gold medalist Tyler Hamilton.

A strong supporter of a riders' union, he's afraid his team may be unfairly singled out by what he calls a "twisted crusade."

"If they target my riders, I'll stand arm in arm with them," he says. "The true power is in the team owners and our athletes."

A recent image of Cipo, Doug Ollerenshaw and, I think, Scott Moninger. That's probably Botero in front of him.

A recent image of Cipo, Doug Ollerenshaw and, I think, Scott Moninger. That's probably Botero in front of him.Looks like the effects of long term growth hormone use on that elongated jaw of his.

A recent image of Cipo, Doug Ollerenshaw and, I think, Scott Moninger. That's probably Botero in front of him.Rock Racing training camp photos from Rahsaan Bahati (http://bahatiracing.com/rbgroup/photos/rock_racing_camp_jan_18th_2008/default.aspx)

Rock Racing training camp photos from Rahsaan Bahati (http://bahatiracing.com/rbgroup/photos/rock_racing_camp_jan_18th_2008/default.aspx)good pics...especially of the food.:eek: One good reason to ride is so you can eat what you want; that stuff they have looks like fresh emesis after a hard night of drinking combined with a bloody turd. Give me some hooters wings and a pitcher.

good pics...especially of the food.:eek: One good reason to ride is so you can eat what you want; that stuff they have looks like fresh emesis after a hard night of drinking combined with a bloody turd. Give me some hooters wings and a pitcher.LOL...I take it you're not a pro cyclist fsc? I'm with you though. It is the one time when the food you need (high cal/high carb/converts to energy quick) actually meshes with the crap that we're not supposed to eat normally. Ship in the donuts please...http://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies/party/party0051.gif (http://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies/party-smilies/3/#)

http://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies/sign/sign0179.gif (http://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies/sign-smilies/10/#)


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LOL...I take it you're not a pro cyclist fsc? I'm with you though. It is the one time when the food you need (high cal/high carb/converts to energy quick) actually meshes with the crap that we're not supposed to eat normally. Ship in the donuts please...http://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies/party/party0051.gif (http://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies/party-smilies/3/#)When I raced I had a good diet and never drank (in season), but it was always nice being able to eat a lot. I will say I never ate stuff that looked as bad as the food in the pictures; I'd rather just eat a clif bar. My problem now is I want to eat the same amount but burn 1/2 the calories. I have no reason at this point in life to eat crappy food, and I like beer (the good stuff not bud light).

A lot of former cyclists (and other athletes) have trouble with weight - it's difficult to transition from high calorie diets when you quit racing. Look at Merckx, he was big as a house. I thought I read somewhere he even had gastric surgery, but I could be wrong. Of course if I lived in Belgium, home of the best beers in the world, I'd be enormous as well.

According to Bahati's blog (http://bahatiracing.com/rbgroup/blogs/fall_2006/archive/2008/01/28/802.aspx), R&R have announced the Tour of California team - Dopers r Us :

The obvious 5 was the new pro tour riders on the team.
Victor Hugo Pena, Oscar Sevilla, Tyler Hamilton, Santiago Botero and Freddie Rodriguez.
There are three spots left to make up the team and one particular riders as said by team owner Micheal Ball has made the leap to the big leagues….Kayle LeoGrande also was named for the TOC team.

With only two spots left Ball picked the rest of the riders who would be competing for the last spots on the team. Adam Switters, Mike Creed, David Clinger, Rudy Napalotano and Doug Ollerenshaw.
I really did think my name would be called but I guess I’m not a warrior. However I’m working on it.