By Tim Maloney, European Editor
His goofy grin and blue-jean pattern shorts were almost an icon of 1990's cycling, but Claudio Chiapucchi never quite won the big one. He faded from the scene almost a decade ago after chalking up a respectable palmarès with stage wins and best climber in the Tour de France (three podium appearances in 1990-91-92). As a member of the almost legendary Carrera squad, Chiapucchi hung up his bike for good in 1998. But the hardheaded, hard-riding 43 year-old from Ubaldo, just north of Milano who was nicknamed "il Diablo", has returned with a vengeance.
