Riccardo Riccò suffers facial injuries after crash on Mont Ventoux descent

I posted the one before (18h54) before my netbook had loaded the photo of him with the bruising (using a slow WiFi).
But I have such a lack of confidence in him that I wouldn't be surprised if it was make-up !
Chris (the cynic).

I think the raison-d'etre for this whole publicity-seeking "news" is the statement "his MCipollini bike was undamaged".
Mario'sbike sales must be down if he wants to be associated with Ricco.
Is all publicity really good ?

Riding a Specialized Tarmac?

He looks like he has been burnt all over.

Reminds me of the ending of Raiders of the Lost Ark

I find the reporting of individuals tweets as 'news' pathetic.

Is this even worth reporting? His injuries appear minor and an individual that doesn't deserve publicity is back in the media attention.

Facial road rash at 60 kph would remove his nose and face in my experience of similar trauma.. 60 kph I think not.

is he 31 already! jeez....

that's karma, right there

If it's Strava records he's after someone should tell him about digital EPO. It's cheaper, less dangerous to take and less dangerous to ride.

It won't disguise that earring though...

How come my local Mc Donalds doesn't do EPO.
It's one rule for the Europeans and another for us poor Brits...

I think the real crime here is his earrings.
The UCI should have banned him for that alone.

..and In ten years once he is dead they'll be releasing jerseys and making films about him.

He may be an idiot but that doesn't mean he doesn't need help.

As aside, is he actually allowed to race the fondos? at least some come under UCI control, others national federations?? I know there was a case the States where a rider was tested and found to be doped as I understand it.

At least if he needs a blood transfusion he doesn't have to go any further than his kitchen.

He probably fell whilst reaching into his portable fridge for a bag of stinking blood.

I hate this man, but I also pity him

A bit of proportion would be good here - if he were convicted of dealing Class As he would be helped with his addiction problems and given some counselling to help bring him back into society after his punishment.

As it is he's cheated in some bike races and it seems that death is considered a fairly likely (and not entirely regrettable) outcome. Does that sound right to you?

I doubt anyone will take any notice of any records he breaks,
well apart from the "how many different drugs can I take in
one ride" record ....

I don't think he is a well man and I don't think he'll be alive when his ban expires. He'll have either killed himself doing something ridiculously stupid or top himself.

Is he still with his (also a doper) girlfriend/fiancee?

Hmm, so "he wants to break the records for the ascents of some of Europe’s most iconic climbs". I wonder how difficult it will be if he's doped up to the gills again?

Doper comes a cropper whilst trying to go faster than he is clearly capable of doing.

Metaphor?