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