Props From Cipo

I was just reading an article in Cyclingnews in which Cipollini was decrying the lack of machismo in today's cycling and it made me remember my brush with the great Italian sprinter who had a flair for the dramatic that is so missing from the current crop of pros.

I was working for a small frame manufacturer and we had a booth at Interbike back in 2007. It just so happens that we were also the official bike for the Susan G. Komen Foundation and we had 1 of those bikes on display at the bike show in my size. Pink of course.

2007 was the first year that the USA Crit Series held their final race in Vegas and they were also holding an industry crit as one of the events. I signed myself and one of our sponsored racers from the South Bay Wheelmen Women's Team up for the race and had my buddy at Champion Systems make up a special kit for us: all pink of course.

Now an important component of this story is that a friend of mine from Ann Arbor, Marne, was assisting us at our booth that year. Marne is a multi-sport athlete specializing in mtb, cross and Xterra events. Marne is also very....well let's just say that Marne is very easy on the eyes. Get the picture?

So the evening of the race I get changed into my all pink kit and proceed to ride my all pink bike down the Strip in Vegas on my way out to the race. I got stopped at a light and as I was sitting there I noticed a bike wheel roll up on my right side and a bike wheel roll up on my left side. I glance to my left: Massimiliano Lelli, and I glance to my right: Mario Cipollini. I nod to Cipollini and he asks in his heavy Italian accent:

"Are you riding out the bike race?"

"Yeah, I'm riding out the bike race.....are you riding out to the bike race?"

"Yes, we are. We don't know where it is. Mind if we join you?"

Pause..........

"Yeah, no problem." I offer my hand to shake, "My name is Joe."

"I am Mario, that is Max"

"Nice to meet you."

The three of us then proceed to roll a few more blocks down the Strip and we get caught at another light. As we are sitting there suddenly out of nowhere, Marne - tan, long brunette hair, easy-on-the-eyes Marne, wearing nothing but a running bra and short running shorts runs up to us from the sidewalk. She practically pushes Cipollini out of the way, grabs me, gives me a hug and a quick peck on the cheek, tells me good luck and she will be cheering for me at the race and then just as suddenly is gone, running down the sidewalk.

Cipollini looks at me, one eyebrow raised slightly and without a word, gives me the thumbs up.

I look back at him and reply, "I have no idea who that was but that happens all the time."

And then the light turned green and the three of us rolled on down the Strip.