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Mario Cipollini baits helmet lobby - by wearing one, and nothing else

Italian great thanks social media "judges" for concern over his safety in own inimitable way...

Italian legend Mario Cipollini has hit out at people who criticise him on social media for not wearing a helmet while riding a bike ... by posting a picture to Facebook in which, shoes and socks apart, he is entirely nude apart from the helmet he's wearing.

With a body most 48-year-old MAMILs would kill for, the 2002 world champion - who once said that if he weren't a professional cyclist, he'd have been a porn star - addressed the post to "all the 'judges' who comment on my photos."

He added: "I've even put on a helmet while on the rollers. I'm glad of your advice about my safety."

Indor training .....Dedicato a tutti i "giuridici" che commentano le mie foto !Ho messo il casco anche sui rulli !Sono grato ai vostri consigli riguardo la mia tutela !

Posted by Mario Cipollini on Wednesday, 17 February 2016

Hopefully the rider who won 57 Grand Tour stages during his career - 42 of those in the Giro d'Italia - didn't fall off while riding in the buff, otherwise damage to the helmet on his head might be the least of his worries.

> road.cc talks to Super Mario

> Cipollini turns James Bond in bike video

 

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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25 comments

Avatar
ironmancole | 8 years ago
0 likes

Important to keep your helmet polished, Cippo looks like he needs to give it a rub.

Class though, good on him. Perhaps a motoring mag can put a 48 year old petrol head in a similar shot, show the world how good it is to sit on your chuff in smog  3

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The _Kaner | 8 years ago
0 likes

"baits helmet lobby"

 

We should be thankful for small mercies at least it doesn't read

'bates helmet lobby'

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a_pilau | 8 years ago
0 likes

Knob!!

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Zebra | 8 years ago
0 likes

Oh my god! Is that a staircase with no railing?????

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RTB | 8 years ago
0 likes

He forgot to add his customary fag (as in a tobacco one but up to him really) and then he could have gone after the anti-smoking lobby too, another bunch he no doubt figures have got it wrong. 

Guess the wannabe porno got his unfair share of the physical bits but traded up the cerebral stuff...   Just perfect for a career in Italian politics then.

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Jimmmmy | 8 years ago
0 likes

Where was his helmet made? Germany?

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Ush | 8 years ago
3 likes

Confirms me in my decision to only buy saddles new.

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wycombewheeler replied to Ush | 8 years ago
0 likes
Ush wrote:

Confirms me in my decision to only buy saddles new.

How is that a decision? Why was a used saddle ever an option?

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leqin | 8 years ago
0 likes

There is absolutely no proof that riding a bike naked reduces injury yes

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Nathan79 | 8 years ago
1 like

Gotta love Mario. Though my Mrs thinks he looks like John Bishop......

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flathunt | 8 years ago
6 likes

Well isn't this an awkward site to view at work this morning...

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antonio | 8 years ago
0 likes

Sad to see the demise of that Cateye turbo trainer, one of the best made. I had mine over twenty years and modified it to great effect by removing the fan on the flywheel and more than doubling the weight with an added steel to replace the fan. This gave a real road like feel with a run down of 25-28 seconds, and that was with a fixed gear bike attached, feet out of the pedals of course.

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antonio | 8 years ago
1 like

Obviously two helmets better than one!

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Mungecrundle | 8 years ago
0 likes

Oh dear Lord, the chaffing!

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the little onion | 8 years ago
2 likes

Mario is my hero. We shall never see his likes again in the peleton

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ped replied to the little onion | 8 years ago
0 likes
the little onion wrote:

We shall never see his likes again in the peleton

We won't, although I can't help but think that perhaps Peter Sagan's at least a heir to his hair … 

//i.imgur.com/qaUbHuV.png)

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Bob's Bikes | 8 years ago
0 likes

Wonder if he did that in an attempt to get rubbed up the wrong way

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Ginsterdrz | 8 years ago
0 likes

Who is he?

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HalfWheeler | 8 years ago
2 likes

If Mario was a bar of chocolate he'd eat himself.

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rjfrussell | 8 years ago
5 likes

I can't see his helmet-  the right leg is in the way.

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belgravedave | 8 years ago
1 like

What pro cycling really needs.

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Chapo | 8 years ago
4 likes

I tried that on the turbo.

Ruined my saddle.

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earth | 8 years ago
0 likes

He hasn't let himself go.  Wonder if it's all through cycling or whether he goes to the gym.

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davecochrane | 8 years ago
4 likes

Legend.

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a_pilau replied to davecochrane | 8 years ago
0 likes
davecochrane wrote:

Legend.

Surely you mean bell-end!? 

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