31 replies to this topic Post Order

[thysmeades]

http://www.cyclingne...=0&ns_fee=0

Team owner Ivano Fanini stipulates five conditions

Riccardo Riccò may return to racing for the Italian Continental Amore & Vita squad at the upcoming Giro delle Toscana, a 196km one-day race from Sesto Fiorentino to Arezzo on June 19, provided the embattled Italian rider adheres to several conditions from team owner Ivano Fanini.

"If he will respect my requests we'll see again a number on his back at the next edition of Tour of Tuscany, on June 19," said Fanini. "I'm also sure he will be able to fight for victory. Our goal is to give him a second chance to get back and then find a spot on a WorldTour team in 2012."

In a press release issued today, the Amore & Vita team outlined the five conditions upon which they would allow Riccò to join the squad.

"1. At the next meeting with Fanini, Riccardo must have removed the two earrings, piercings and also the diamond embedded in a tooth. This is evidence of a totally new image.
2. He must stop working with his agent and also with his trainer. These professionals, and even a his lawyer, will not follow or advise him any longer.
3. He must update immediately the biological passport and never have a drug or a syringe with him, unless expressly authorized by the team.
4. He must come to live with his wife and son in a villa on my property a few minutes from team headquarters so we can check him at any time.
5. He must be available to speak with the competent authorities about his knowledge on the doping system."

Riccò is still awaiting the outcome of the police investigation into exactly what happened when he was rushed to hospital on February 6. It was reported that he told the emergency room doctor that he'd undergone a botched blood transfusion but he denied this after leaving hospital.

Riccò was a member of Vacansoleil-DCM at the time of the incident, and the Dutch ProTeam suspended and ultimately fired him for "violation of internal team rules and other indications" following their own investigation.

Riccò made his return to the sport in March, 2010 with the Ceramica-Flaminia team following his 20-month ban for doping during the 2008 Tour de France. The Italian then transferred to Vacansoleil in the latter portion of the 2010 season.

Despite the chance of a permanent ban from cycling if Riccò's found guilty of blood doping, Fanini believes in his talents and hopes he can return to top-level competition once again.

"At the moment Riccardo, in my opinion, is the only Italian who can make amazing performances in at least two major Tours in the same season and go strong all year, riding clean against just as clean opponents," said Fanini.

[TNT1]

 thysmeades, on 01 June 2011 - 08:11 , said:

Our goal is to give him a second chance

This guy's maths is a little shaky...

[splat]

 thysmeades, on 01 June 2011 - 08:11 , said:

"At the moment Riccardo, in my opinion, is the only Italian who can make amazing performances in at least two major Tours in the same season and go strong all year, riding clean against just as clean opponents," said Fanini.

A bit naive maybe?

[Jaco-fiets]

I work for a Italian company so now and then we speak cycling. The Italians are die hard cycling supporters and they stick to their Italian riders more than a guy from Pretoria to a blue jersey. However Ricco is a much hated sportsmen in Italy...... go figure!

[splat]

Cyclingnews.com says the team is Meridian-Kamen

[rock]

their rules are probably a little more slack - 'win at all costs' comes to mind......

[BigGuy]

It is sh1t like this that keeps cycling interesting... "riding clean against just as clean opponents" that about sums it up.

[GrumpyOldGuy]

I dont have an issue with him coming back and I like some of the conditions, get back with your wife and kid, lose the punk rocker jewelary and attitude, get rid of the negative influences in his life, conform to the sporting protocols and lets give you a break.

Ricco is a very troubled young man in my opinion, but that dos not make him inherently bad, maybe this is what he needs, a goal, some serious dicipline and stable family life to ground him and get his career back on track.

I believe he has enormous potential, he just needs to channel that mindset correctly.

[TNT1]

 GrumpyOldGuy, on 01 June 2011 - 03:14 , said:

I dont have an issue with him coming back and I like some of the conditions, get back with your wife and kid, lose the punk rocker jewelary and attitude, get rid of the negative influences in his life, conform to the sporting protocols and lets give you a break.

Ricco is a very troubled young man in my opinion, but that dos not make him inherently bad, maybe this is what he needs, a goal, some serious dicipline and stable family life to ground him and get his career back on track.

I believe he has enormous potential, he just needs to channel that mindset correctly.

I personally wouldn't touch him with a barge pole untill the investigation into February's collapse is concluded. This guy (jewellery and marriage issues aside) has proven himself to be an habitual doper.

[GrumpyOldGuy]

 TNT1, on 01 June 2011 - 03:17 , said:

I personally wouldn't touch him with a barge pole untill the investigation into February's collapse is concluded. This guy (jewellery and marriage issues aside) has proven himself to be an habitual doper.

Indeed, but I believe the negative influences in his life could have contributed towrds his habitual doping. Its like stealing, there is usually always an underlaying reason why someone continues to steal even though they know its wrong, peer pressure, an unhappy family life, the need for attention etc - I think the conditions address those possible reasons and are aimed at giving him a chance to get back on track.

Like I said, I think Ricco is a troubled young man, possibly he allows himself to be manipulated in a negative way by certain people around him, so by taking him out of a negative situation or away from the manipulative people and putting him back in a stable family enviroment with his wife and kids, under some strict dicipline he could very well redeem himself.

Personally I believe everyone deserves another chance.

Edited by GrumpyOldGuy, 01 June 2011 - 03:37 .

[splat]

The Italian Cycling Federation has announced that it has temporarily suspended Riccardo Riccò from competition, citing concerns over the rider’s health.

from Cyclingnews.com

[Puncheur]

 GrumpyOldGuy, on 01 June 2011 - 03:14 , said:

I dont have an issue with him coming back and I like some of the conditions, get back with your wife and kid, lose the punk rocker jewelary and attitude, get rid of the negative influences in his life, conform to the sporting protocols and lets give you a break.

Ricco is a very troubled young man in my opinion, but that dos not make him inherently bad, maybe this is what he needs, a goal, some serious dicipline and stable family life to ground him and get his career back on track.

I believe he has enormous potential, he just needs to channel that mindset correctly.

Wise post, man...

[Lucky Luke.]

Come on this guy is a complete clown, deceitful and thick as two short planks. Do you guys know his history?

[TNT1]

 Lucky Luke., on 09 June 2011 - 07:11 , said:

Come on this guy is a complete clown, deceitful and thick as two short planks. Do you guys know his history?

He's a cobra.

[Lucky Luke.]

 TNT1, on 09 June 2011 - 07:19 , said:

He's a cobra.

Apparently 'the Cobra is dead'

http://www.cyclingne...e-cobra-is-dead

what a knob

[TNT1]

 Lucky Luke., on 09 June 2011 - 07:27 , said:

Apparently 'the Cobra is dead'

http://www.cyclingne...e-cobra-is-dead

what a knob

Yeah, and then he said that anyone can suffer from kidney failure, just like that, in your athletic prime. Guy needs a lifetime ban, and probably some jailtime.