Wilier Triestina and MCippolini News

Back to the beginning, that is, the 2009 season: the Lampre-Farnese Vini team rides Wilier Triestina bikes. ISD, the large Ukranian metallurgical company sponsored team, rides Cipollini bikes.

A week ago it was announced that ISD would become a partner of Lampre and the team would be named Lampre-ISD beginning next season. Lampre has now announced that they have renewed their contract with Wilier for another three years. The Lampre - Wilier relationship began in 2003.

Under the agreement Wilier will supply Lampre-ISD with a yearly supply of 150 bikes and of "all the necessary technical material".

In 2011 Team Lampre-ISD will use the Cento1 SL (of which Petacchi rides a specially modified one).

Mario Cipollini will become one of the primary sponsors of what was the ISD team under the name "MCipollini". The team is searching for another major sponsor at which time it will be decided if "MCipollini" will be the primary or secondary sponsor.


Photos: Petacchi won the green jersey at the 2009 Tour de France on a Wilier Cento 1 SL; Cipollini photo by Bettini

Who knows what "Wilier" stands for?

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,500 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog and there is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

Mario Cipollini and ISD–NERI Cycling Team Presentation

The ISD-NERI Cycling Team presentation took place today on the outskirts of Verona at the beautiful Villa Quaranta. Mario Cipollini was on hand to present the "Cipollini" bicycles that ISD-NERI will be using this season.

At the presentation Cipollino revealed how he became involved in creating a Cipollini frame. "In a chance encounter with Federico Zecchetto, founder of Giordana and DMT, the idea arose of producing high-end bicycles. From that day we are working tirelessly, with an engineer for the design and with an Italian company for production of the bicycle. I have made available my name but above all my 30 years of experience in the saddle. We are sure that the that the finished product is the best the riders could ask for." A line of bicycles devoted to innovation and technology that in its first year will be seen in important races beginning with the Tour of San Luis (Argentina) this week.

The main objectives for the team this year: Milan-San Remo, Tirreno-Adriatico and, supposing an invitation, the Giro d'Italia.

Related story here.

Note: the team frame is model "RB1000". An Italian cycling magazine tested a (11,000 euro) Cipollini "RB800" in November which had a traditional, straight, seat tube:

Photos: Visconti and Cipollini, the entire squad

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal welcome; contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,100 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog and there is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

Cipollini Bikes for the ISD Cycling Team

The ISD Cycling Team will be riding "Cipollini" bikes during the 2010 season, coming off of Specialized. Super Mario was the "performance manager" of ISD last season.

It isn't clear yet who makes the frame/fork. (note: italiaanseracefietsen left a comment saying that the frame/fork is made by Max Lelli).

There is also a Cipollini clothing line in the works.

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal welcome; contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,100 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog and there is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

TTT Final Advice from Mario Cipollini

Mario Cipollini, now the "performance manager" of the ISD squad, gives final advice on Friday on a training ride on the Lido. The team has been training quite a bit and hopes to be a surprise:

http://italiancyclingjournal.blogspot.com/2009/04/mario-cipollini-team-isd.html

Photo: Bettini

After the Giro we'll get back to "regular programming": everything from A to Z about Italian cycling. Stories, including cycling trip stories, for the Italian Cycling Journal welcome; contact veronaman@gmail.com.

Mario Cipollini & Team ISD

Super Mario is now the "performance manager" of the ISD squad, one of the invited teams to the Giro d'Italia. This past week he has been riding with the team, all using their time trial bikes, on the roads between Lucca and Pisa in preparation for Venice.

The time trail team make-up is likely to be: Giovanni Visconti (team captain), experienced riders Dario David Cioni and Leonardo Scarselli; specialist Andrey Grivko, Dmitry Grabovskyy, and Bartosz Huzarski; Ukranian champion Ruslan Pidgornyy and Italian sprinter Oscar Gatto.

Of the training Cipollini said, "We are satisfied with the testing we performed, now we await Venice. We could be the true surprise."

Photo: Mario and the ISD squad TTing near Lucca

Stories, including cycling trip stories, for the Italian Cycling Journal welcome; contact veronaman@gmail.com