Cycling's (witnessed) memorable moments, 2008: Cipollini to Cavendish (Part 1)

December 23, 9:44 PMCycling ExaminerJames Raia

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Mario Cipollini

Like mainstream sportswriters who sometimes vote for MVP award winners and Hall of Fame inductees in football, baseball and basketball they haven’t seen compete, it’s unfair for me to select end-of-year moments involving cyclists I didn’t see ride.

I wrote often about but didn’t attend any Grand Tours in 2008. But I did attend start to finish the Amgen of Tour California, Tour de Georgia and Tour of Missouri. And I also attended the Tour de Nez, Sea Otter Classic and few other cycling-related events like U.S. Bicycle Hall of Fame dinner and induction presentation in Davis, California.

As such, I’ve made two end-of-the year lists: The year's 10 most memorabe moments I viewed in person and the 10 moments I didn’t see but than nonetheless remain memorable from the past 12 months:

Here are the lists:

Memorable (Witnessed) Moments (Part 1)

1. (Feb. 19) — Mario Cipollini’s much-heralded return to the peloton with Rock Racing was short-lived. But while riding against many cyclists nearly half his age, Cipo finished third to Tom Boonen and Heinrich Haussler in the Sacramento second stage of the Tour of California in February. Cipollini had been retired for a while, but it seemed like he was hardly gone while watching his leg speed and listening to his typically engaging post-race press conference. Like others before and since, Cipollini quickly soured on the antics and ego of Michael Ball, the Rock Racing boss. And just as quickly as Cipo had arrived at the front of the peloton, he was gone — and retired for good.

2. (Feb. 21) — It was a long, nasty Tour of California Stage 4 from Seaside to San Luis Obispo and Dominique Rollin (Toyota-United) of Canada prevailed. Considering the neutralized 10km start, the peloton for more than 140 miles and it took about seven hours. Rollin rode the final 15 miles solo to seal what was expected — a leap to the sport’s top level. Rollin will ride alongside Carlos Sastre and the Cervelo Test Team in 2009.

3. (Feb. 22) — Like he’d done the previous year, Levi Leipheimer rode to a dominating individual time trial win in stage 5 of the Tour of California in Solvang. Leipheimer has had a few horrible time trials in his career, but the 15-mile Solvang effort catapulted him the his second straight overall TOC title.

4. (Feb. 24) — I’ve followed George Hincapie’s career since he was an amateur racing in the Tour DuPont. And I admit, I like the guy. He chooses his words carefully, lets his legs to the “talking” and he’s now a perfect fit as one of the sport’s elder statesmen. While Leipheimer was solidifying his overall title, Hincapie won the final stage of the Tour of California at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on another rainy and overcast day.

5. (April 19) — David Clinger is/was one of cycling’s unique individuals. Handsome, talented and spirited, his career took an odd turn a few years back when his covered his face with a Maori Warrior-style tattoo. Combine his unique appearance with a temper and there weren’t  a lot of opportunities for the former Lance Armstrong teammate — except for the perfect place, Rock Racing. Clinger rode as a strong team rider in the circuit race at the Sea Otter Classic and finished third in the criterium. He had other strong early season results, including a small road race win. But soon enough, Clinger was jettisoned from Rock Racing. Sean Weide may be cycling’s best PR guy. And With his colleagues, the Rock Racing staff distributed press info nearly every time team owner Michael Ball sneezed in 2008. But when Clinger left the squad, nothing was said. None of the much-followed cycling sites reported on the “mystery,” either. Clinger, soon to be age 31, is a character, for sure. And I wonder if he’ll surface on the cycling scene, again.

Read Part 2 of cycling memorable moments, 2008

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