In the aftermath of his domestic violence conviction, and being sanctioned with a three-year suspended sentence and fines, Mario Cipollini has moved to distance his current situation from his bike brand, Cipollini Bikes.
While representatives for the former world champion have said he will appeal, his conviction is a huge blow to his reputation. It had also previously been alleged, by his former mother in law, that he had chased his ex-wife, Sabrina Landucci, while carrying a gun he kept under his pillow.
The former pro rider, one of the most prolific winners of his generation, was charged with domestic abuse, stalking, and injuring his ex-wife and her partner, Silvio Giusti. As well as the three-year suspended sentence, he was ordered to pay damages of €80,000 to Ms Landucci and €5,000 to Mr Giusti, as well as pay legal fees.
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Cipollini (55), who was previously acquitted of tax evasion and has suffered from serious heart problems in recent years, took to social media to effectively make a plea on behalf of his bike company in the aftermath of his sentencing.
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He made no direct reference to the domestic violence case, conviction or sentencing but said what was happening to him now was in no way linked to the Cipollini bike brand.
In a post on Instagram he said when he finished his pro career he wanted to "pass on what I had learned, and what I still had to give as a cyclist, to the most ambitious".
"The working experience with Cipollini Bike, the bicycle company that bears my name, was from the beginning a sports playground where I could still have my say, both in terms of technique and attention to detail. I can never thank enough the owners and employees that have given me this opportunity.
"What happens to me today has nothing to do with the brand Cipollini Bike… a company made up of professional, serious and prepared people," he said, adding the company had worked for 10 years to deliver quality bikes to amateurs and pro riders.
Court documents stated Cipollini committed “a series of acts damaging the physical and mental integrity of his ex-wife with punches, slaps, kicks, with injuries, and death threats" against his wife.
Ms Landucci told the court her ex-husband, Cipollini, in January, 2017, went to her work place and “grabbed my neck and then banged my head against the wall. I had injuries, so I had to go to the emergency room” in one of several accusations outlined against him.
