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 first victories

At 1.72 m and just 57 kg (5 ft 8 in, 126 lb/9 st), Pantani was a classically built mountain climber. In 1994, during his second participation to the Giro d'Italia, he became known after winning two mountain stages and finishing 2nd overall after Eugeni Berzin and before Miguel Induráin, who had won the last two editions of the Giro. He would probably have won that Giro if his team had not asked him to help their leader, Claudio Chiappucci, during the first mountain stages, where he lost a lot of time to Berzin. Pantani made his Tour de France debut in 1994 finishing 3rd overall, but he did not win a single stage even though he attacked and left behind him Induráin (the Tour winner) during several stages. In 1995 he could not participate in the Giro because of an accident, but he was back in the Tour and he won two stages, at Guzet Neige and at Alpe d'Huez. He also finished third in 1995's world championship.

Related Topics:
Mountain climber - Giro d'Italia - Eugeni Berzin - Miguel Induráin - Claudio Chiappucci - Tour de France - 1994 - 1995 - Guzet Neige - Alpe d'Huez

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

During the early years of Pantani's career he created a very big sensation with his unique style of climbing. Even though he often lost a lot of time during individual time trials, it looked like no one could resist him in the high mountains. He impressed the other cyclists so much that, during a stage in Tour de France one of them clapped his hands as he was overtaken by Pantani. His determination to win, which made him take big risks downhill and often arrive at the top of a mountain pass close to asphyxia, can be well explained by the way he answered to a journalist asking why he was so fast during a climb: "to make my suffering end sooner."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Pantani developed a unique climbing style in which he stayed on the drops the entire way, often while pedaling out of the saddle. He preferred this position so much that Bianchi built him a special bike with a very high head-tube to accommodate a higher handlebar position. Just when he looked set to build on this success, Pantani was in a horrific collision during an Italian race near the end of the 1995 season. He broke his leg in two places and was left facing the end of his career.

Related Topics:
Bianchi - 1995

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~