Former Italian cycling star Mario Cipollini has been sentenced to three years in prison.

A court in his hometown of Lucca punished the 55-year-old ex-world champion for threats and violence against his ex-wife Sabrina Landucci, as reported by the Ansa news agency. Landucci reported the incidents in January 2017. In addition to the prison sentence, the ex-sprinter has to pay a fine of 85,000 euros. Cipollini had denied the allegations in court.

Cipollini was also found guilty of threatening Landucci's new partner, ex-footballer Silvio Giusti. It is still unclear whether Cipollini will appeal the first-instance verdict. The public prosecutor had asked for two and a half years in prison.

Cipollini was one of the most dazzling stars of cycling, especially in the 1990s. The "Lion King" achieved 161 victories, including 42 successes at the Giro d'Italia and twelve at the Tour de France. In 2002 he became world champion and won the classic Milan-Sanremo, three times he won Gent-Wevelgem.

Bericht Corriere della Serra