Marco Pantani

Marco Pantani (Cesena, January 13, 1970 – February 14, 2004) was an Italian cyclist widely regarded as being one of the best climbers of his generation in professional road bicycle racing. The high point of his career was to win the Tour de France and the Giro d'Italia in 1998. The bandana he often wore and his attacking style of riding led to him being dubbed 'Il Pirata' (the pirate) by the adoring Italian "tifosi" - his fans. However, since 1999 his career was dogged by drug allegations, following his failing a blood test in the 1999 Giro.

The death

On 14 February 2004, Pantani died suddenly at a hotel in Rimini, Italy. An autopsy revealed he died of a cerebral edema and heart failure, and a later coroner's inquest revealed that this was brought on by acute cocaine poisoning. Reacting to his death, fellow Italian cyclist Mario Cipollini said "I am devastated. It's a tragedy of enormous proportions for everyone involved in cycling. I'm lost for words."

Related Topics:
14 February - 2004 - Hotel - Rimini - Italy - Autopsy - Cerebral edema - Inquest - Cocaine - Mario Cipollini

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Twenty thousand mourners gathered at his funeral, during which his manager and close friend Manuela Ronchi read these final notes from his diary:

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:For four years I've been in every court, I just lost my desire to be like all the other sportsmen, but cycling has paid and many youngsters have lost their faith in justice. All my colleagues have been humiliated, with TV cameras hidden in their hotel rooms to try and ruin families. How could you not hurt yourself after that?

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Marco Pantani is buried in Cesenatico.

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The time trial stage of the 2004 Alpe d'Huez was dedicated to Pantani's memory.

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Giro d'Italia's organizers decided to dedicate every year a mountain pass to Pantani's memory. In 2004, the first Cima Pantani was Passo del Mortirolo, a terrible mountain pass that played a key role in Pantani's history: it was inserted for the first time in the Giro in 1994 when Pantani attacked on it leaving everyone behind, to finally earn one of his best victories at Aprica; in 1999 Mortirolo waited for Pantani in vain since he was excluded from that Giro before the beginning of the stage. In 2005 the Cima Pantani was Colle Fauniera, where, in 2003, Pantani showed the last glimps of his talent.

Related Topics:
Giro d'Italia - Cima Pantani - Passo del Mortirolo - Aprica

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