The patron of the Amore e Vita team, Ivano Fanini, has reacted with disappointment to Mario Cipollini's decision to suddenly retire. Fanini was quoted by tuttobiciweb as saying that Cipollini was still bound to him and his team by a contract: Cipollini started his career with Amore e Vita in 1985 and had pledged to finish it with them. "If Mario wants to stop racing, I respect his decision," said Fanini. "But he knows that he has to meet us. Our agreement states that in case he defaults on his contract, he will owe us €600,000. And I don't intend to renounce this."
"If Mario wants to come back and finish his career with us next year, I will be happy to open the doors of the team for him and do everything to prepare a high level squad, built around him. On the other hand, I don't intend to renounce that money: a figure that Cipollini can surely pay."
