Michele Bartoli Wants To Race Again

by gavia on Dec 23, 2008 12:06 PM EST in News Comment 19 comments

Gav_medium In an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, Michele Bartoli says he would like to return to racing. "It would not change my life," he said. "It would be purely for enjoyment." The return of Lance Armstrong and the longevity of Davide Rebellin have inspired him to consider taking out a license.

Bartoli, former winner of Tour of Flanders and Liège-Bastogne-Liège, still trains daily with Ivan Basso and Alessandro Petacchi. He keeps up just fine with his friends, which makes him "want to return." Il Gatto confided to Gazzetta that he still feels strong on the bike and doesn't consider his age a problem. His wife Alessandra is supportive of the idea.

In 2004, the Italian rode for CSC. In his words, the season was a "disaster." "Riis did strange things, not adapted to my head," explained Bartoli. The traditional survival camp did not suit him. He felt lost in a "game without frontiers," far from the familiar patterns of cycling as he knew it. "After 20 days, I cracked in my head," he said.

Though he won the Ronde, Bartoli never won Paris-Roubaix. He names missing the win at Roubaix his main "regret" from his career. But he believes he could be competitive there again, and also at Flanders. The challenge of racing against young up-and-coming talents such as Giovanni Visconti is "a motivation."

What are you doing for the Christmas holiday? Bartoli says he will stay at home. Then, he will meet up with Ivan Basso and Giovanni Lombardi. "Yes, we will train."

Interview by Claudio Ghisalberti, Gazzetta dello Sport.

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One of my favorite all time riders

If he came back and was competitive I’d be happy – if he rode like shit I’d be sad and a little disappointed.

"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum."

by Drew... on Dec 23, 2008 12:32 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I liked him too

but why the h*** do we want old farts from the superfuelled generation taking up places that could go to young exciting talents?

Carlos Sastre - Tour de France winner - Born From Jets

by Jens on Dec 23, 2008 1:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Why not, everyone else is doing it

he has accomplished a lot(you forgot to mention he won the Giro Lombardia twice) so this could be an exciting comeback. I could see him go to the team of Gibo and Rebellin, Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni. They seem to like the older riders who still have a chance at big wins. He can ride in support for Rebellin at the Ardennes and be leader at Flanders and P-R. At the worst he would be a help to the younger riders on the team. So that’s the team I really would like to see him on if he comes back.

"If you go (with a break), you can either win or not win. If you don't go for it, you definitely won't win."
~ Jens Voigt

by Phil H. on Dec 23, 2008 12:47 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

lol

I just put in the two victories that immediately came to mind – he won far too much to list them all. That’s why the linky is there ;-)

by gavia on Dec 24, 2008 12:50 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It's only a monument and everything, nothing important about it at all

no it’s all good, listing that he’s won Liege and Flanders gets the point across well enough that he was a damn good rider.

"If you go (with a break), you can either win or not win. If you don't go for it, you definitely won't win."
~ Jens Voigt

by Phil H. on Dec 24, 2008 12:57 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Increase the Average Age.

I’d love it. I predicted that the average age of riders would increase and the variance would too on some old thread by Ursula (I believe) and this would help both! Go for it.
I doubt it will happen. When will the "Geezers team be created with only those above 35 allowed!

Mark (getting close to senior golf age!)

by Markk on Dec 23, 2008 1:18 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Sansone

Among Dr. Fuentes best customers.

C.F.A.

by Lili on Dec 23, 2008 4:13 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Uh-oh...

Chicken Rasmussen’s talking about the same thing…again: http://www.tv2sporten.no/sykkel/article2483651.ece (Norwegian)

by Josenka on Dec 23, 2008 4:24 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Bartoli rocked!

Of all the cycling videos I own, I think my favorite is the 1997 Liege-Bastogne-Liege. Bartoli taking on the ONCE double team of Jalabert and Zulle, then the #1 and #2 ranked riders in the world, and exhausting them both with his relentless attacking, is about as good as bike racing gets.

But, enough with the comebacks, already! The Armstrong circus is bad enough; the last thing cycling needs is more champions from the ’90s re-entering the peloton.

by Tifosa on Dec 23, 2008 5:45 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Why not?

don’t you think these comebacks add some excitment to the sport next year. Even if you don’t like them aren’t you inclined to watch how they race out of curiosity? I know I am, I’m real curious to see how Lance, Basso, and even Jaksche do next year. If the comebacks succeed then it would be a great story, and if they fail then other riders will know they can’t take a few years off and come back in their late 30’s. Obviously Basso is a different case then Lance and Bartoli. I think he should give it a shot and see what comes of it. If he comes back in good form then he ads excitment to the classics, if he sucks then the races are still great, just no one notices he’s there.

"If you go (with a break), you can either win or not win. If you don't go for it, you definitely won't win."
~ Jens Voigt

by Phil H. on Dec 23, 2008 5:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm curious to see how Basso will go

also Scarponi. Armstrong, not so much.

I can understand how people could be fascinated by the Armstrong return, but it just doesn’t do anything for me. I was tired of Armstrong by the time he retired, and I don’t feel any differently now. As for Bartoli, I guess I’d be excited if I thought he could return to top form and be a contender in the classics again, but that just seems so unlikely.

by Tifosa on Dec 23, 2008 9:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

One of the things

that I’m real curious to see is if Lance changes the way he rides. The last few Tours he won were done so very meticulously, which is his right but lead to the Tour being less entertaining. I’m sure that’s one of the reasons you were tired of him by the time he retired. But he is doing some races next year that he’s never done before, and he will have to be good from the very beginning at the Giro. He never had to be on top form at the Tour so early. He may have to be more aggressive at the Giro and he will have a lot of tough challengers, and the Italians will be ready to give him all they have. Then at the Tour he may not be team leader for the first time in a decade. So I’m curious to see how he adjusts to these new challenges. I don’t believe he can just race how he did those last years, things will be different next year.

"If you go (with a break), you can either win or not win. If you don't go for it, you definitely won't win."
~ Jens Voigt

by Phil H. on Dec 23, 2008 10:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

"the last thing cycling needs is more champions from the ’90s re-entering the peloton"

Ding.
What are comments born from American pop culture?
I’ll take Teenage Viewpoints for 500

by sminer on Dec 23, 2008 9:13 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I'm sorry but the guy is

38 and he’s been out of the sport for over 4 years. What’s next? Is Abdujaparov coming back too. I like old riders as much as the next guy, but what is he really going to do other than perhaps animate a few early breaks in the Ardennes. Yawn…

by Mr Van P on Dec 24, 2008 7:44 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Do you mean Armstrong?

In which case make that “37 and out of the sport for over 3 years.” Not that it changes your point much, but fair is fair.

Google is my domestique.

by majope on Jan 1, 2009 12:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Did he mention that he looked forward to competing against Armstrong in ‘09? Has Lance mentioned that he’s interested in tackling Liege or Flechs Wallone? I’d love to see him face off against Cunego and Valverde in the Ardennes classics.

by Fernando on Dec 24, 2008 1:54 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Bartoli?

No, his only reference to Armstrong, was a sort well, if he’s doing, why shouldn’t I? That is, he thinks maybe he might come out retirement also.

It would be interesting to see all those dudes show up in the Ardennes together. Huh. Hard call on who would win that one, but I tend to think one of the kids would take it – both Val and Dami have some fast finish on them.

by gavia on Dec 24, 2008 7:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs