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Video: Mario Cipollini trains with MCipollini-Giambenini-Gauss

Training day at Lake Garda

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Monia Baccaille is the fastest finisher at MCipollini-Giambenini-Gauss.

Monia Baccaille is the fastest finisher at MCipollini-Giambenini-Gauss. (Image credit: Mario Reggiani)
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Mario Cipollini with the MCipollini-Giambenini-Gauss team.

Mario Cipollini with the MCipollini-Giambenini-Gauss team. (Image credit: Mario Reggiani)
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Mario Cipollini puts Tatiana Guderzo through her paces.

Mario Cipollini puts Tatiana Guderzo through her paces. (Image credit: Mario Reggiani)
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Mario Cipollini supervises the core exercises.

Mario Cipollini supervises the core exercises. (Image credit: Mario Reggiani)
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Mario Cipollini talks MCipollini-Giambenini-Gauss through the finer points of the lead-out train.

Mario Cipollini talks MCipollini-Giambenini-Gauss through the finer points of the lead-out train. (Image credit: Mario Reggiani)
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Mario Cipollini's enthusiasm for the sport continues unabated.

Mario Cipollini's enthusiasm for the sport continues unabated. (Image credit: Mario Reggiani)
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The 2012 MCipollini-Giambenini-Gauss team in full flight.

The 2012 MCipollini-Giambenini-Gauss team in full flight. (Image credit: Mario Reggiani)
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Mario Cipollini with the MCipollini-Giambenini-Gauss team.

Mario Cipollini with the MCipollini-Giambenini-Gauss team. (Image credit: Mario Reggiani)
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Mario Cipollini enjoyed his day with MCipollini-Giambenini-Gauss.

Mario Cipollini enjoyed his day with MCipollini-Giambenini-Gauss. (Image credit: Mario Reggiani)
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The MCipollini-Giambenini-Gauss team at breakfast.

The MCipollini-Giambenini-Gauss team at breakfast. (Image credit: Mario Reggiani)
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Mario Cipollini and Tatiana Guderzo, who finished second in the Trofeo Binda.

Mario Cipollini and Tatiana Guderzo, who finished second in the Trofeo Binda. (Image credit: Mario Reggiani)
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Elena Cecchini (MCipollini-Giambenini-Gauss).

Elena Cecchini (MCipollini-Giambenini-Gauss). (Image credit: Mario Reggiani)
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Mario Cipollini was also on hand to advise on nutrition.

Mario Cipollini was also on hand to advise on nutrition. (Image credit: Mario Reggiani)
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MCipollini-Giambenini-Gauss DS Luisiana Pegoraro.

MCipollini-Giambenini-Gauss DS Luisiana Pegoraro. (Image credit: Mario Reggiani)
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Mario Cipollini checks on the form.

Mario Cipollini checks on the form. (Image credit: Mario Reggiani)
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All smiles before the off with Mario Cipollini.

All smiles before the off with Mario Cipollini. (Image credit: Mario Reggiani)
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Where's my seat?

Where's my seat? (Image credit: Mario Reggiani)
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Mario Cipollini advises Tatiana Guderzo on her position.

Mario Cipollini advises Tatiana Guderzo on her position. (Image credit: Mario Reggiani)
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Mario Cipollini helps out with some core exercises.

Mario Cipollini helps out with some core exercises. (Image credit: Mario Reggiani)
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Monia Baccaille and Mario Cipollini.

Monia Baccaille and Mario Cipollini. (Image credit: Mario Reggiani)
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Time for a tactics discussion with the Lion King.

Time for a tactics discussion with the Lion King. (Image credit: Mario Reggiani)
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Mario Cipollini is also considering a comeback of his own.

Mario Cipollini is also considering a comeback of his own. (Image credit: Mario Reggiani)
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Mario Cipollini leads the MCipollini-Giambenini-Gauss team on a training ride.

Mario Cipollini leads the MCipollini-Giambenini-Gauss team on a training ride. (Image credit: Mario Reggiani)
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Mario Cipollini on the shores of Lake Garda.

Mario Cipollini on the shores of Lake Garda. (Image credit: Mario Reggiani)
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MCipollini-Giambenini-Gauss with Mario Cipollini.

MCipollini-Giambenini-Gauss with Mario Cipollini. (Image credit: Mario Reggiani)
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Mario Cipollini makes his point.

Mario Cipollini makes his point. (Image credit: Mario Reggiani)
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The day ended with a tactical discussion.

The day ended with a tactical discussion. (Image credit: Mario Reggiani)
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Mario Cipollini puts MCipollini-Giambenini-Gauss through their paces.

Mario Cipollini puts MCipollini-Giambenini-Gauss through their paces. (Image credit: Mario Reggiani)
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Mario Cipollini watches over MCipollini-Giambenini-Gauss.

Mario Cipollini watches over MCipollini-Giambenini-Gauss. (Image credit: Mario Reggiani)
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Marta Bastianelli, Tatiana Guderzo and Elena Cecchini work out under Mario Cipollini's watchful eye.

Marta Bastianelli, Tatiana Guderzo and Elena Cecchini work out under Mario Cipollini's watchful eye. (Image credit: Mario Reggiani)
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Ever the perfectionist, Mario Cipollini oversees the stretching exercises.

Ever the perfectionist, Mario Cipollini oversees the stretching exercises. (Image credit: Mario Reggiani)
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Mario Cipollini talks tactics.

Mario Cipollini talks tactics. (Image credit: Mario Reggiani)
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MCipollini-Giambenini-Gauss on the road with Mario Cipollini.

MCipollini-Giambenini-Gauss on the road with Mario Cipollini. (Image credit: Mario Reggiani)
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Mario Cipollini with MCipollini-Giambenini-Gauss president Alessia Piccolo.

Mario Cipollini with MCipollini-Giambenini-Gauss president Alessia Piccolo. (Image credit: Mario Reggiani)
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Mario Cipollini is planning a comeback to the professional peloton.

Mario Cipollini is planning a comeback to the professional peloton. (Image credit: Mario Reggiani)
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Monia Baccaille (MCipollini-Giambenini-Gauss).

Monia Baccaille (MCipollini-Giambenini-Gauss). (Image credit: Mario Reggiani)
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Mario Cipollini in conference with Monia Baccaille.

Mario Cipollini in conference with Monia Baccaille. (Image credit: Mario Reggiani)
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Tatiana Guderzo, Valentina Carretta and the rest of the 2012 MCipollini-Giambenini-Gauss team line up.

Tatiana Guderzo, Valentina Carretta and the rest of the 2012 MCipollini-Giambenini-Gauss team line up. (Image credit: Mario Reggiani)
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Mario Cipollini corrects Tatiana Guderzo's position.

Mario Cipollini corrects Tatiana Guderzo's position. (Image credit: Mario Reggiani)
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Mario Cipollini breaks down Monia Baccaille's pedalling.

Mario Cipollini breaks down Monia Baccaille's pedalling. (Image credit: Mario Reggiani)
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Mario Cipollini talks with Valentina Carretta and Monia Baccaille.

Mario Cipollini talks with Valentina Carretta and Monia Baccaille. (Image credit: Mario Reggiani)
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Welcome! Mario Cipollini and MCipollini-Giambenini-Gauss at Bardolino, near Lake Garda.

Welcome! Mario Cipollini and MCipollini-Giambenini-Gauss at Bardolino, near Lake Garda. (Image credit: Mario Reggiani)
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MCipollini-Giambenini-Gauss and the man himself on the shores of Lake Garda.

MCipollini-Giambenini-Gauss and the man himself on the shores of Lake Garda. (Image credit: Mario Reggiani)
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Mario Cipollini stands on ceremony.

Mario Cipollini stands on ceremony. (Image credit: Mario Reggiani)
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Mario Cipollini with Monia Baccaille.

Mario Cipollini with Monia Baccaille. (Image credit: Mario Reggiani)
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Mario Cipollini and Tatiana Guderzo.

Mario Cipollini and Tatiana Guderzo. (Image credit: Mario Reggiani)
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Elena Cecchin with Mario Cipollini.

Elena Cecchin with Mario Cipollini. (Image credit: Mario Reggiani)
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Stop pulling my leg.

Stop pulling my leg. (Image credit: Mario Reggiani)
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MCipollini-Giambenini-Gauss will be looking to lead out Monia Baccaille to victory in 2012.

MCipollini-Giambenini-Gauss will be looking to lead out Monia Baccaille to victory in 2012. (Image credit: Mario Reggiani)
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Mario Cipollini observes the pedalling form of MCipollini-Giambenini-Gauss.

Mario Cipollini observes the pedalling form of MCipollini-Giambenini-Gauss. (Image credit: Mario Reggiani)
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Keeping pace with Mario Cipollini.

Keeping pace with Mario Cipollini. (Image credit: Mario Reggiani)
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Mario Cipollini and MCipollini-Giambenini-Gauss near Bardolino.

Mario Cipollini and MCipollini-Giambenini-Gauss near Bardolino. (Image credit: Mario Reggiani)
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The 2012 MCipollini-Giambenini-Gauss squad.

The 2012 MCipollini-Giambenini-Gauss squad. (Image credit: Mario Reggiani)

Mario Cipollini made headlines recently when he announced his intentions to return to professional cycling and ride the Giro d’Italia aged 45. While it remains to be seen if we will indeed see the Lion King roar again on the big stage, Cipollini has been putting in the miles in recent weeks to prove his mettle.

He recently joined up with the MCipollini-Giambenini-Gauss squad at Bardolino on the ambient shores of Lake Garda for a day of training and tactical discussion. Cipollini of course provides frames to the women’s team, but he was also happy to offer his technical advice to a squad which boasts stand-out talents such as Monia Baccaille, Tatiana Guderzo, Mata Bastianelli and Valentina Carretta.

“I’m convinced that this movement needs more attention and much more professionalism,” MCipollini-Giambenini-Gauss manager Alessia Piccolo said. “For this reason, I hope to have given my girls a nice present by putting a great champion like Mario Cipollini at their disposal. He was very kind in lending himself to the initiative, and passed on a lot to the athletes both in terms of training methods and the life of an athlete in general.”

The day began with breakfast, where Cipollini passed on his nutritional advice, and he then led a stretching and core exercise session before joining the squad in a training ride on Lake Garda. Their work-out included a number of sprint drills, and Cipollini concluded the day by passing on some of his extensive knowledge on forming a successful sprint train.