Cipollini summarised his feelings: "I am very disappointed. Milan-San Remo was for me the first high point of my season and it is the race I have been aiming at."
The injury is to his right shoulder and there is a small tear of ligaments in the collarbone and scapula. Castellacci has put Cipollini under intensive therapy to reduce the lesion and has placed a type of bandage to protect the shoulder. The doctor said: "We have taped it. On Friday we will see if this gives him problems riding."
But Cipollini won't talk about not riding. On Thursday he rode the bike for one and a half hours. "Unfortunately I have a pain in my shoulder and inflammation. I'm trying all possible remedies. I want to be at the start of Milano-San Remo at all cost".
Michele Bartoli considered his Tirreno-Adriatico win: "This is a very important race, I was interested in winning it. The route has been an exceptional preparation for San Remo. I don't know if the team and I spent too much energy in defending my GC position."
Bartoli beat Rebellin and Garzelli. Vainsteins made serious tactical errors in the race and this meant he was not as tough a rival as he could have been. But Bartoli was not happy about the way he became GC leader: "I was displeased with the incident. I think that Vainsteins will ride a beautiful San Remo. My favorites for Saturday are Jalabert and Rebellin, with the Latvian surprise".
Michele has talked only about riders that he raced against at Tirreno-Adriatico. "Those are the adversaries that I have seen closely. I have heard good things about Vandenbroucke, Boogerd and Tchmil and I wouldn't forget Sorensen, who can always invent something". Bartoli arrives at San Remo aware of his strength. "I want to win it, but I haven't changed my mind. I think about when I was a boy and I remember the images of Argentin winning at Liege, at Flanders, but my memory doesn't tie up with Sanremo. I don't think that this will change my popularity. I'm not like Pantani - he has a wordly spirit, he does TV, he even attracts people who aren't usually interested in cycling. Instead, I'm popular in Belgium".
Virenque says: "I buried myself alive. They said that I wouldn't be succesful and that I would be at the end of the peloton. Now I can say that after what happened from July to January, Paris-Nice has been a pleasant moment. My relationship with the other riders? I would say normal. During the race nobody attacked me verbally or physically. I have not regained the rhythm of eight months ago, but I feel good and I think that I will have a good season".
On Saturday Virenque will start at Milano-San Remo to help service the team effort aimed at getting Davide Rebellin into a winning position. Then he will travel to the Catalan races, Pais Vasco and Romandie before th Giro d'Italia.
"I have analyzed the route of the Giro. I consider it extremely difficult. This would be a course that could launch Gotti to the first steps of the podium. But if Ivan is not in conditions then I will play my cards. I usually reach my best level by the end of May or the beginning of June, so I don't exclude the possibility that the Giro 1999 could become one of my objectives. Other than the Giro, Virenque is thinking about the National Championship, the Tour de France and the Worlds.
"They are three dates that I will face with determination. Team Polti has placed its belief in me and I want to repay Franco Polti and Gianluigi Stanga for the trust they've put on me".
El Chaba inspected the route in the company of Leonardo Piepoli, who will be the other 'card' that Banesto will take to the Italian race. Eusebio Unzué, sport director for the team, accompanied them by car. The two riders went around the circuit twice (62 kms).
Jiménez said: "It's going to be a route that will force riders to change their rhythm and gears constantly, because it has many ups and downs and quite a few curves. If I'm in good form, I should be able to have a good ITT, because it is a route for strong riders. The curves on some of the descents could be dangerous if you don't know them, but I have memorised the whole route. And on the day of the race I will be able to do a lap before the stage."
In the afternoon, Jiménez, Piepoli and Unzué covered by car part of stage 13 (Sassuolo-Rapallo, 231 km). "It has a complicated route, not only because of the climbs, but because there are some leg breaking slopes. If there is a battle going on, it could be a tough stage."