Just like Marmite, Mario Cipollini polarised opinion. But there’s no doubt he was a winner, and cut a dash both on and off the bike with his sartorial choices.
Being born in Lucca, just down the road from Parentini, it goes without saying that this classy rider would wear kit made by his fellow Tuscan’s. In his amateur days, before he turned professional with Del Tongo in 1989, he cut a prolific dash, winning 125 races in age group and amateur races. All the way up to the Under 23s (pictured above), he wore Parentini kit, providing much-needed feedback and getting the logo in photos when he undoubtedly had his hands in the air with his famous victory salute.
His long palmares can be viewed here.
This is the first in a long series of short intros to classy Parentini riders from around the world. We started with Mario as he’s a friend of Gianpaolo Parentini!