Marco Pantani
Encyclopedia
Marco Pantani was an Italian road racing cyclist, widely considered one of the best climbers in professional road bicycle racing
. He won both the Tour de France
and the Giro d'Italia
in 1998, being the first Italian since Felice Gimondi
in 1965 to win the Tour de France.
His attacking style and aggressive riding turned him into a fan favorite in the late 1990s. He was known as 'Il Pirata' because of his shaved head and the bandana
and earrings he always wore. His style contrasted with that of time-trialling
experts such as the five-times Tour winner Miguel Indurain
.
Despite the fact that he never tested positive, his career was beset by doping allegations. In the 1999 Giro d'Italia
, he was expelled due to his irregular blood values. Although he was disqualified for "health reasons", it was implied that Pantani's high haematocrit was the product of EPO
use. Following later accusations, Pantani went into a depression from which he never fully recovered. He died of acute cocaine poisoning
in 2004.
, Romagna
, the son of Fernando (referred to as Paolo) and Tonina. He joined the Fausto Coppi cycling club of Cesenatico
at the age of eleven. At 1.72 m and 57 kg, Marco Pantani had the classic build for a mountain climber. As an amateur, he won the 1992 Girobio
, the amateur version of the Giro d'Italia
, after finishing third in 1990 and second in 1991.
He turned professional in 1992 with Davide Boifava
's . In 1994, during his second Giro d'Italia
, he won two consecutive mountain stages and came in second behind Eugeni Berzin
but ahead of Miguel Indurain
, who had won the two previous Giros. That same year, Pantani made his Tour de France
debut, coming in third and winning the young rider classification
along the way. In 1995 he was hit by a car while training that kept him from riding the Giro, but rode the Tour and won stages at Alpe d'Huez
and Guzet Neige. He also finished thirteenth and claimed his second successive best young rider prize. He also won a stage at the Tour de Suisse
and finished third in the 1995 world championship
in Duitama, Colombia, behind Spaniards Abraham Olano
and Miguel Indurain
. Shortly after returning to Italy he collided head-on with a car during the Italian Milano–Torino race. He sustained multiple fractures to the left tibia
and fibula, an injury that threatened his career and forced him to miss most of the 1996 season.
founded , taking with him as directeur sportif
s Giuseppe Martinelli
, Davide Cassani
and Alessandro Giannelli and ten of the riders from Carrera. Pantani returned to the Giro in 1997 but crashed out after a black cat ran in front of him during one of the first stages. He returned to action at the 1997 Tour de France
and won two stages in the Alps
, establishing a record time for the climb of Alpe d'Huez
and winning two days later at Morzine
. Jan Ullrich won, with Pantani third behind Richard Virenque
.
The following year, 1998, Pantani won the Giro d'Italia
for the first time, beating Pavel Tonkov
and Alex Zülle
. He also won stages to Piancavallo
and Plan di Montecampione
as well as the Mountains classification
. In the Tour de France
, Pantani started by finishing 181 of 189 riders in the opening prologue and losing over four minutes in the first individual time trial
to 1997 Tour de France
winner Jan Ullrich
. Pantani pulled back these early time losses to Ullrich and then defeated him by almost nine minutes in the first mountain stage in the Alps
, from Grenoble
to Les Deux Alpes
, via the Col de la Croix de Fer
and Col du Galibier
. Pantani launched an attack on the ascent of Galibier, forty eight kilometers from the finish. He stopped to put on a rain jacket at the summit to win on the final ascent to Deux Alpes. Pantani turned his three minute deficit on Ullrich into a six minute advantage that he maintained in the following stages to win the Tour de France ahead of Jan Ullrich
and Bobby Julich
. Pantani became the first Italian since Felice Gimondi
in 1965 to win the Tour and the seventh rider in history to achieve the Giro-Tour double, that no one had attempted since Miguel Indurain
failed in 1994. He was awarded the Velo d'Or
as the best rider of 1998.
with only one mountain stage left when a blood test at Madonna di Campiglio
showed that he had a 52-percent hematocrit reading, above the 50-percent upper limit set by UCI
. He was expelled from the race and forced to take a two-week break from racing, with no further action taken. At the time of his disqualification, Pantani had won four stages and held a comfortable lead of five minutes and thirty-eight second over compatriot Paolo Savoldelli
and also lead the points and mountains classifications.
It was later revealed that Pantani had recorded a hematocrit
level of 60.1 per cent when he was hospitalised after his crash in 1995 Milano-Torino and Pantani was accused of falsifying sports results through EPO. Although the results didn't surface until 1999, in early 1997 UCI
had decided to implement blood testing imposing a 50-percent upper limit for hematocrit
. A rider with a value above 50-percent was given a compulsory two-week suspension. The test was designated as a "health test" although it was on suspicion that the athlete was using the banned blood-boosting drug, EPO
. Turin prosecutor indicted Pantani on a so-called “fraud in sport” but the case was eventually dismissed because the law itself had only been passed in 1999. Pantani stayed away from the rest of the year's races.
In 2000 he was back in the Giro after deciding to ride only the day before the race started. He lost time and could not attack until the last mountain stage to Briançon
, in which he helped his teammate Stefano Garzelli
to win. Pantani rode the 2000 Tour de France
. He was off the pace but matched Lance Armstrong
on Mont Ventoux
, leaving the field behind. Armstrong eased and appeared to allow Pantani the stage victory; Pantani told that he felt insulted by the gesture, causing bad feelings between the two exacerbated when Armstrong referred to him as Elefantino (Italian for 'little elephant'), a reference to his prominent ears. In that same Tour, he won another stage, to Courchevel
, that turned out to be his last victory. On the next stage, over the hors categorie
Col de Joux-Plane to Morzine
, Pantani broke away to crush Armstrong but he suffered stomach problems and withdrew the next day. He never raced the Tour again. Armstrong held on to the yellow jersey but lost two minutes to Jan Ullrich
, claiming it had been the worst day he had ever had on a bike.
After that he raced sporadically in 2001 and 2002, although he was morally defeated from doping suspicions and had poor results. During the 2001 Giro d'Italia
, Italian police
raided the rooms of riders from all 20 teams and a syringe containing traces of insulin
was found in Pantani's room. He was banned for six months by the Italian Cycling Federation
but later won an appeal due to an absence of proof. In 2003, Pantani made another comeback in the Giro d'Italia
, finishing 14th. His best stage result was a fifth position after launching an unsuccessful attack on the slopes of Monte Zoncolan
. It was the last time he rode the Giro d'Italia. In late June he made a plea for privacy following his admission to a psychiatric clinic which specialized in nervous disorders, drug addiction and alcoholism.
, Italy. An autopsy
revealed he had a cerebral edema
and heart failure, and a coroner's inquest
revealed acute cocaine
poisoning. Mario Cipollini
said "I am devastated. It's a tragedy of enormous proportions for everyone involved in cycling. I'm lost for words."
Pantani was buried in his hometown, Cesenatico
. Twenty thousand mourners were at his funeral, during which his manager Manuela Ronchi read from his diary:
Miguel Indurain
, five-times Tour de France
winner, paid tribute by saying: "He got people hooked on the sport. There may be riders who have achieved more than him, but they never succeeded in drawing in the fans like he did."
Giro d'Italia
's organizers decided to dedicate a mountain pass to Pantani's memory every year. In the 2004 edition
, the first Cima Pantani was Mortirolo Pass, a pass that played a key role in Pantani's history. When Mortirolo was included in the Giro for the third time in 1994, Pantani attacked and left everyone behind to earn a win at Aprica
.
The Memorial Marco Pantani
has been organized since 2004 in his memory. The race starts in Cesenatico
, Pantani's hometown, and follows a route towards his birthplace, Cesena
.
The 16th stage of 2004 Tour de France
was dedicated to Pantani's memory. This stage was an individual time trial
up to Alpe d'Huez
, where Marco Pantani won in 1995
and 1997
.
On June 19 of 2011 a new monument was inaugurated on Col du Galibier
to celebrate Pantani's attack there in 1998.
(rEPO) throughout his professional career. It alleges that seasonal levels of hematocrit
from several sources showed variations which exceeded those possible naturally, and that Pantani's great victories were probably won thanks to hematocrit blood levels which could have been up to 60%.
WD = withdrew
Road bicycle racing
Road bicycle racing is a bicycle racing sport held on roads, using racing bicycles. The term "road racing" is usually applied to events where competing riders start simultaneously with the winner being the first to the line at the end of the course .Historically, the most...
. He won both the Tour de France
Tour de France
The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
and the Giro d'Italia
Giro d'Italia
The Giro d'Italia , also simply known as The Giro, is a long distance road bicycle racing stage race for professional cyclists held over three weeks in May/early June in and around Italy. The Giro is one of the three Grand Tours , and is part of the UCI World Ranking calendar...
in 1998, being the first Italian since Felice Gimondi
Felice Gimondi
Felice Gimondi is an Italian former professional racing cyclist.With his 1968 victory at the Vuelta a España, only three years after becoming a professional cyclist, Gimondi, nicknamed "The Phoenix", was the second cyclist to win all three Grand Tours of road cycling: Tour de France , Giro...
in 1965 to win the Tour de France.
His attacking style and aggressive riding turned him into a fan favorite in the late 1990s. He was known as 'Il Pirata' because of his shaved head and the bandana
Kerchief
A kerchief is a triangular or square piece of cloth tied around the head or around the neck for protective or decorative purposes...
and earrings he always wore. His style contrasted with that of time-trialling
Individual time trial
An individual time trial is a road bicycle race in which cyclists race alone against the clock . There are also track-based time trials where riders compete in velodromes, and team time trials...
experts such as the five-times Tour winner Miguel Indurain
Miguel Indurain
Miguel Ángel Indurain Larraya is a retired Spanish road racing cyclist. He won five consecutive Tour de Frances from 1991 and 1995, the first to do so, and the fourth athlete to win five times. He won the Giro d'Italia twice, becoming one of only seven people in history to achieve the Giro Tour...
.
Despite the fact that he never tested positive, his career was beset by doping allegations. In the 1999 Giro d'Italia
1999 Giro d'Italia
The 1999 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 82nd edition of the race, was held from 15 May to 6 June 1999. It covered in 22 stages. It was won by the Italian Ivan Gotti....
, he was expelled due to his irregular blood values. Although he was disqualified for "health reasons", it was implied that Pantani's high haematocrit was the product of EPO
Erythropoietin
Erythropoietin, or its alternatives erythropoetin or erthropoyetin or EPO, is a glycoprotein hormone that controls erythropoiesis, or red blood cell production...
use. Following later accusations, Pantani went into a depression from which he never fully recovered. He died of acute cocaine poisoning
Cocaine intoxication
Cocaine intoxication refers to the immediate effects of cocaine on the body. Although cocaine intoxication and cocaine dependence can be present in the same individual, they present with different sets of symptoms....
in 2004.
The first victories
Pantani was born in CesenaCesena
Cesena is a city and comune in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy, south of Ravenna and west of Rimini, on the Savio River, co-chief of the Province of Forlì-Cesena. It is at the foot of the Apennines, and about 15 km from the Adriatic Sea.-History:Cesena was originally an Umbrian...
, Romagna
Romagna
Romagna is an Italian historical region that approximately corresponds to the south-eastern portion of present-day Emilia-Romagna. Traditionally, it is limited by the Apennines to the south-west, the Adriatic to the east, and the rivers Reno and Sillaro to the north and west...
, the son of Fernando (referred to as Paolo) and Tonina. He joined the Fausto Coppi cycling club of Cesenatico
Cesenatico
Cesenatico is a port town with about 20,000 inhabitants on the Adriatic coast of Italy. It is located in the province of Forlì-Cesena in the region of Emilia-Romagna, about 30 km south of Ravenna...
at the age of eleven. At 1.72 m and 57 kg, Marco Pantani had the classic build for a mountain climber. As an amateur, he won the 1992 Girobio
Girobio
Girobio, also known as Baby Giro, is an Italian road bicycle racing amateur stage race created in 1970. Girobio is the most important race on Italy's amateur calendar and it is considered the amateur version of the Giro d'Italia. The list of winners includes renowned riders like Francesco Moser,...
, the amateur version of the Giro d'Italia
Giro d'Italia
The Giro d'Italia , also simply known as The Giro, is a long distance road bicycle racing stage race for professional cyclists held over three weeks in May/early June in and around Italy. The Giro is one of the three Grand Tours , and is part of the UCI World Ranking calendar...
, after finishing third in 1990 and second in 1991.
He turned professional in 1992 with Davide Boifava
Davide Boifava
Davide Boifava is an Italian former professional road bicycle racer and cycling team manager.- Palmarès :1969...
's . In 1994, during his second Giro d'Italia
1994 Giro d'Italia
The 1994 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 77th edition of the race, was held from 22 May to 12 June 1994, consisting of 22 stages. It covered a total of 3,738 km, completed at an average speed of 37.124 km/h...
, he won two consecutive mountain stages and came in second behind Eugeni Berzin
Eugeni Berzin
Evgeni Berzin is a Russian cyclist whose best year was 1994, when he won the Giro d'Italia and Liège–Bastogne–Liège. Only 24 at the time, Berzin was then tipped as being a future megastar in cycling, but he was never quite able to live up to the results of 1994. In 1995, he was second at the Giro...
but ahead of Miguel Indurain
Miguel Indurain
Miguel Ángel Indurain Larraya is a retired Spanish road racing cyclist. He won five consecutive Tour de Frances from 1991 and 1995, the first to do so, and the fourth athlete to win five times. He won the Giro d'Italia twice, becoming one of only seven people in history to achieve the Giro Tour...
, who had won the two previous Giros. That same year, Pantani made his Tour de France
Tour de France
The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
debut, coming in third and winning the young rider classification
Young rider classification in the Tour de France
-History:From 1968 to 1975, there was a white jersey awarded in the Tour de France to the lead rider in the combination classification . In 1975, this classification was removed, and replaced by the Best Young Rider Classification...
along the way. In 1995 he was hit by a car while training that kept him from riding the Giro, but rode the Tour and won stages at Alpe d'Huez
Alpe d'Huez
L'Alpe d'Huez is a ski resort at . It is a mountain pasture in the Central French Alps, in the commune of Huez, in the Isère département in the Rhône-Alpes region.-Tour de France:L'Alpe d'Huez is one of the main mountains in the Tour de France...
and Guzet Neige. He also finished thirteenth and claimed his second successive best young rider prize. He also won a stage at the Tour de Suisse
Tour de Suisse
The Tour de Suisse is a UCI World Tour stage race held annually in June. The race debuted in 1933 and has evolved in timing, duration and sponsorship. With the Critérium du Dauphiné, it is a proving ground for the Tour de France, and part of the UCI World Ranking calendar...
and finished third in the 1995 world championship
1995 UCI Road World Championships
The 1995 UCI Road World Championships took place in Duitama, Colombia from October 4 to October 8, 1995. It was the last world championship that had an amateur road race: in 1996 this was replaced by an event for cyclists under 23 years.- Events summary :...
in Duitama, Colombia, behind Spaniards Abraham Olano
Ábraham Olano
Abraham Olano Manzano is a Spanish Basque former professional road racing cyclist. His crowning achievement came in 1995 when he became World Road Champion...
and Miguel Indurain
Miguel Indurain
Miguel Ángel Indurain Larraya is a retired Spanish road racing cyclist. He won five consecutive Tour de Frances from 1991 and 1995, the first to do so, and the fourth athlete to win five times. He won the Giro d'Italia twice, becoming one of only seven people in history to achieve the Giro Tour...
. Shortly after returning to Italy he collided head-on with a car during the Italian Milano–Torino race. He sustained multiple fractures to the left tibia
Tibia
The tibia , shinbone, or shankbone is the larger and stronger of the two bones in the leg below the knee in vertebrates , and connects the knee with the ankle bones....
and fibula, an injury that threatened his career and forced him to miss most of the 1996 season.
1997–1998
When Carrera Jeans manufacturers stopped sponsoring the famous Italian cycling team at the end of 1996, a new team based in Italy was formed with Marco Pantani as the team leader. Luciano PezziLuciano Pezzi
Luciano Pezzi was an Italian professional road bicycle racer. He was born in Russi and died in Bologna at age 77.- Palmarès :1955- External links :*...
founded , taking with him as directeur sportif
Directeur sportif
A directeur sportif is a person directing a cycling team during a road bicycle racing event...
s Giuseppe Martinelli
Giuseppe Martinelli
Giuseppe Martinelli is a retired road bicycle racer from Italy, who was a professional rider from 1977 to 1985. He represented his native country at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Canada, where he won silver medal in the men's individual road race behind Sweden's Bernt Johansson...
, Davide Cassani
Davide Cassani
Davide Cassani is a former road cyclist from Italy. He now works as a cycling commentator on Italian television.He was born in Faenza. In 1982 he made his professional debut with Termolan-Galli...
and Alessandro Giannelli and ten of the riders from Carrera. Pantani returned to the Giro in 1997 but crashed out after a black cat ran in front of him during one of the first stages. He returned to action at the 1997 Tour de France
1997 Tour de France
The 1997 Tour de France was the 84th Tour de France, it took place July 5–27, 1997. Jan Ullrich's victory margin, of 9' 09" was the largest margin of victory since Laurent Fignon won the 1984 Tour de France by 10' 32"...
and won two stages in the Alps
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
, establishing a record time for the climb of Alpe d'Huez
Alpe d'Huez
L'Alpe d'Huez is a ski resort at . It is a mountain pasture in the Central French Alps, in the commune of Huez, in the Isère département in the Rhône-Alpes region.-Tour de France:L'Alpe d'Huez is one of the main mountains in the Tour de France...
and winning two days later at Morzine
Morzine
Morzine is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in eastern France with panoramic mountain views, modern ski facilities and hotels and restaurants. The ski resort of Avoriaz is located on the territory of the commune...
. Jan Ullrich won, with Pantani third behind Richard Virenque
Richard Virenque
Richard VirenqueRichard Virenque's name is pronounced Ree-shah Vee-rahnk. Virenque considers himself a man of the South but pronounces his name in standard French. Confusion is caused by the southern habit of pronouncing "en" as "ang" or "eng", making it Vee-rank. But Virenque says Vee-rahnk or...
.
1998 Giro d'Italia
The 1998 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 81st running of the race, was held from 16 May to 7 June 1998. It covered , in 22 stages, and it was won by Marco Pantani....
for the first time, beating Pavel Tonkov
Pavel Tonkov
Pavel Sergeyevich Tonkov is a former professional road racing cyclist from Russia. His talents were first showcased when winning the world junior title as part of the Soviet Union team in 1987. This alerted the world to his talents and he turned pro in 1992 with the RUSS-Baïkal team. His biggest...
and Alex Zülle
Alex Zülle
Alex Zülle is a Swiss former professional road bicycle racer. During the 1990s he was one of the best cyclists in the world, winning the Vuelta a España twice and taking the second place in 1999 Tour de France. He was world time-trial champion in Lugano in 1996.-Early career:Zülle was born and...
. He also won stages to Piancavallo
Piancavallo
Piancavallo is a ski resort in the Dolomites of northeast Italy. It is a frazione of the comune of Aviano, in the province of Pordenone in Friuli-Venezia Giulia.- Geography:...
and Plan di Montecampione
Montecampione
Montecampione is a ski resort in Valcamonica, Lombardy, northern Italy. It is located 55 km from Bergamo and 95 km from Milan, near Lake Iseo...
as well as the Mountains classification
King of the Mountains
The King of the Mountains is the title given to the best climber in a cycling road race; usually and officially known as the Mountains classification...
. In the Tour de France
1998 Tour de France
The 1998 Tour de France, also called the Tour du Dopage , was marred by doping scandals throughout known as the Festina affair, starting with the arrest of Willy Voet, a soigneur in the French Festina team. Voet was traveling into France when he was arrested and found with large quantities of...
, Pantani started by finishing 181 of 189 riders in the opening prologue and losing over four minutes in the first individual time trial
Individual time trial
An individual time trial is a road bicycle race in which cyclists race alone against the clock . There are also track-based time trials where riders compete in velodromes, and team time trials...
to 1997 Tour de France
1997 Tour de France
The 1997 Tour de France was the 84th Tour de France, it took place July 5–27, 1997. Jan Ullrich's victory margin, of 9' 09" was the largest margin of victory since Laurent Fignon won the 1984 Tour de France by 10' 32"...
winner Jan Ullrich
Jan Ullrich
Jan Ullrich is a German former professional road bicycle racer. In 1997, he was the first German to win the Tour de France. He went on to take five second places and a fourth in 2004 and third in 2005. He is considered one of the best time-trialists in the history of the sport...
. Pantani pulled back these early time losses to Ullrich and then defeated him by almost nine minutes in the first mountain stage in the Alps
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
, from Grenoble
Grenoble
Grenoble is a city in southeastern France, at the foot of the French Alps where the river Drac joins the Isère. Located in the Rhône-Alpes region, Grenoble is the capital of the department of Isère...
to Les Deux Alpes
Les Deux Alpes
Les Deux Alpes is a ski resort in the French Isère département. The village sits at 1650m and lifts run to 3600m . It has the largest skiable glacier in Europe and is France's second oldest ski resort behind Chamonix, where the largest mountain in western Europe is located, Mont Blanc...
, via the Col de la Croix de Fer
Col de la Croix de Fer
Col de la Croix de Fer is a high mountain pass in the French Alps linking Le Bourg-d'Oisans and Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne.-Details of climb:...
and Col du Galibier
Col du Galibier
Col du Galibier is a mountain pass in the southern region of the French Dauphiné Alps near Grenoble. It is the ninth highest paved road in the Alps and the sixth highest mountain pass. It is often the highest point of the Tour de France....
. Pantani launched an attack on the ascent of Galibier, forty eight kilometers from the finish. He stopped to put on a rain jacket at the summit to win on the final ascent to Deux Alpes. Pantani turned his three minute deficit on Ullrich into a six minute advantage that he maintained in the following stages to win the Tour de France ahead of Jan Ullrich
Jan Ullrich
Jan Ullrich is a German former professional road bicycle racer. In 1997, he was the first German to win the Tour de France. He went on to take five second places and a fourth in 2004 and third in 2005. He is considered one of the best time-trialists in the history of the sport...
and Bobby Julich
Bobby Julich
Robert Julich, most commonly referred to as Bobby Julich, is an American former professional road bicycle racer who last rode for Team CSC in the UCI ProTour racing series. He got his international breakthrough when he finished 3rd overall in the 1998 Tour de France race, but has since ridden...
. Pantani became the first Italian since Felice Gimondi
Felice Gimondi
Felice Gimondi is an Italian former professional racing cyclist.With his 1968 victory at the Vuelta a España, only three years after becoming a professional cyclist, Gimondi, nicknamed "The Phoenix", was the second cyclist to win all three Grand Tours of road cycling: Tour de France , Giro...
in 1965 to win the Tour and the seventh rider in history to achieve the Giro-Tour double, that no one had attempted since Miguel Indurain
Miguel Indurain
Miguel Ángel Indurain Larraya is a retired Spanish road racing cyclist. He won five consecutive Tour de Frances from 1991 and 1995, the first to do so, and the fourth athlete to win five times. He won the Giro d'Italia twice, becoming one of only seven people in history to achieve the Giro Tour...
failed in 1994. He was awarded the Velo d'Or
Vélo d'Or
The "" is a cycle racing award, created in 1992 by the French cycling magazine Vélo Magazine. Vélo d'or is widely regarded as the most prestigious individual award in cycling. The award is given annually to the rider considered to have performed the best over the year.Lance Armstrong holds the...
as the best rider of 1998.
The late years
In 1999 Pantani was leading the Giro d'Italia1999 Giro d'Italia
The 1999 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 82nd edition of the race, was held from 15 May to 6 June 1999. It covered in 22 stages. It was won by the Italian Ivan Gotti....
with only one mountain stage left when a blood test at Madonna di Campiglio
Madonna di Campiglio
Madonna di Campiglio is a village and a ski resort in northeast Italy. It is a frazione of the comune of Pinzolo. The village lies in the Val Rendena at an altitude of 1,522 m...
showed that he had a 52-percent hematocrit reading, above the 50-percent upper limit set by UCI
Union Cycliste Internationale
Union Cycliste Internationale is the world governing body for sports cycling and oversees international competitive cycling events. The UCI is based in Aigle, Switzerland....
. He was expelled from the race and forced to take a two-week break from racing, with no further action taken. At the time of his disqualification, Pantani had won four stages and held a comfortable lead of five minutes and thirty-eight second over compatriot Paolo Savoldelli
Paolo Savoldelli
Paolo Savoldelli is an Italian former road racing cyclist and winner of the 2002 and 2005 Giro d'Italia....
and also lead the points and mountains classifications.
It was later revealed that Pantani had recorded a hematocrit
Hematocrit
The hematocrit or packed cell volume or erythrocyte volume fraction is the percentage of the concentration of red blood cells in blood. It is normally about 45% for men and 40% for women...
level of 60.1 per cent when he was hospitalised after his crash in 1995 Milano-Torino and Pantani was accused of falsifying sports results through EPO. Although the results didn't surface until 1999, in early 1997 UCI
Union Cycliste Internationale
Union Cycliste Internationale is the world governing body for sports cycling and oversees international competitive cycling events. The UCI is based in Aigle, Switzerland....
had decided to implement blood testing imposing a 50-percent upper limit for hematocrit
Hematocrit
The hematocrit or packed cell volume or erythrocyte volume fraction is the percentage of the concentration of red blood cells in blood. It is normally about 45% for men and 40% for women...
. A rider with a value above 50-percent was given a compulsory two-week suspension. The test was designated as a "health test" although it was on suspicion that the athlete was using the banned blood-boosting drug, EPO
Erythropoietin
Erythropoietin, or its alternatives erythropoetin or erthropoyetin or EPO, is a glycoprotein hormone that controls erythropoiesis, or red blood cell production...
. Turin prosecutor indicted Pantani on a so-called “fraud in sport” but the case was eventually dismissed because the law itself had only been passed in 1999. Pantani stayed away from the rest of the year's races.
In 2000 he was back in the Giro after deciding to ride only the day before the race started. He lost time and could not attack until the last mountain stage to Briançon
Briançon
Briançon a commune in the Hautes-Alpes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department....
, in which he helped his teammate Stefano Garzelli
Stefano Garzelli
Stefano Garzelli is an Italian professional road racing cyclist. The high point of his career to date was his overall win in the 2000 Giro d'Italia, after a close three-way competition with Gilberto Simoni and Francesco Casagrande.-Career:He started out as being a domestique for Marco Pantani but...
to win. Pantani rode the 2000 Tour de France
2000 Tour de France
The 2000 Tour de France was the 87th Tour de France, and took place from July 1 to July 23, 2000. It was won by American cyclist Lance Armstrong. The Tour started with an individual time trial in Futuroscope and ended traditionally in Paris. The distance travelled was 3662.5 km...
. He was off the pace but matched Lance Armstrong
Lance Armstrong
Lance Edward Armstrong is an American former professional road racing cyclist who won the Tour de France a record seven consecutive times, after having survived testicular cancer. He is also the founder and chairman of the Lance Armstrong Foundation for cancer research and support...
on Mont Ventoux
Mont Ventoux
Mont Ventoux is a mountain in the Provence region of southern France, located some 20 km northeast of Carpentras, Vaucluse. On the north side, the mountain borders the Drôme département. It is the largest mountain in the region and has been nicknamed the "Giant of Provence", or "The Bald...
, leaving the field behind. Armstrong eased and appeared to allow Pantani the stage victory; Pantani told that he felt insulted by the gesture, causing bad feelings between the two exacerbated when Armstrong referred to him as Elefantino (Italian for 'little elephant'), a reference to his prominent ears. In that same Tour, he won another stage, to Courchevel
Courchevel
Courchevel is the name of a ski resort located in the commune of Saint-Bon-Tarentaise in the French Alps, in the Tarentaise Valley, Savoie, Rhône-Alpes region. It is a part of Les Trois Vallées, the largest linked ski area in the world...
, that turned out to be his last victory. On the next stage, over the hors categorie
Hors Categorie
Hors catégorie is a French term used in cycle races to designate a climb that is "beyond categorization", an incredibly tough climb. Most climbs in cycling are designated from Category 1 to Category 4 , based on both steepness and length...
Col de Joux-Plane to Morzine
Morzine
Morzine is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in eastern France with panoramic mountain views, modern ski facilities and hotels and restaurants. The ski resort of Avoriaz is located on the territory of the commune...
, Pantani broke away to crush Armstrong but he suffered stomach problems and withdrew the next day. He never raced the Tour again. Armstrong held on to the yellow jersey but lost two minutes to Jan Ullrich
Jan Ullrich
Jan Ullrich is a German former professional road bicycle racer. In 1997, he was the first German to win the Tour de France. He went on to take five second places and a fourth in 2004 and third in 2005. He is considered one of the best time-trialists in the history of the sport...
, claiming it had been the worst day he had ever had on a bike.
After that he raced sporadically in 2001 and 2002, although he was morally defeated from doping suspicions and had poor results. During the 2001 Giro d'Italia
2001 Giro d'Italia
The 2001 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 84th running of the race, was held from 19 May to 10 June 2001. It consisted of a prologue plus 21 stages with one rest days, for a total of 3,356 km, ridden at an average speed of 40.170 km/h. It was won by Gilberto Simoni.- Stages :-Jersey Progress:- General...
, Italian police
Carabinieri
The Carabinieri is the national gendarmerie of Italy, policing both military and civilian populations, and is a branch of the armed forces.-Early history:...
raided the rooms of riders from all 20 teams and a syringe containing traces of insulin
Insulin
Insulin is a hormone central to regulating carbohydrate and fat metabolism in the body. Insulin causes cells in the liver, muscle, and fat tissue to take up glucose from the blood, storing it as glycogen in the liver and muscle....
was found in Pantani's room. He was banned for six months by the Italian Cycling Federation
Federazione Ciclistica Italiana
The Italian Cycling Federation or FCI is the national governing body of cycle racing in Italy.The FCI is a member of the UCI and the UEC....
but later won an appeal due to an absence of proof. In 2003, Pantani made another comeback in the Giro d'Italia
2003 Giro d'Italia
The 2003 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 86th running of the race, was held from 10 May to 1 June 2003, consisting of 21 stages for a total of 3,472 km, ridden at an average speed of 38.828 km/h. It was won by Gilberto Simoni....
, finishing 14th. His best stage result was a fifth position after launching an unsuccessful attack on the slopes of Monte Zoncolan
Monte Zoncolan
Monte Zoncolan is a mountain in the Carnic Alps, located in the region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy. It is one of the most demanding climbs in professional road bicycle racing, having been used in the Giro d'Italia four times and the Giro Donne once...
. It was the last time he rode the Giro d'Italia. In late June he made a plea for privacy following his admission to a psychiatric clinic which specialized in nervous disorders, drug addiction and alcoholism.
Death
During the early evening of February 14, 2004 Pantani was found dead at a hotel in RiminiRimini
Rimini is a medium-sized city of 142,579 inhabitants in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, and capital city of the Province of Rimini. It is located on the Adriatic Sea, on the coast between the rivers Marecchia and Ausa...
, Italy. An autopsy
Autopsy
An autopsy—also known as a post-mortem examination, necropsy , autopsia cadaverum, or obduction—is a highly specialized surgical procedure that consists of a thorough examination of a corpse to determine the cause and manner of death and to evaluate any disease or injury that may be present...
revealed he had a cerebral edema
Cerebral edema
Cerebral edema or cerebral œdema is an excess accumulation of water in the intracellular or extracellular spaces of the brain.-Vasogenic:Due to a breakdown of tight endothelial junctions which make up the blood-brain barrier...
and heart failure, and a coroner's inquest
Inquest
Inquests in England and Wales are held into sudden and unexplained deaths and also into the circumstances of discovery of a certain class of valuable artefacts known as "treasure trove"...
revealed acute cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
poisoning. Mario Cipollini
Mario Cipollini
Mario Cipollini , often abbreviated to "Cipo", is a retired Italian professional road cyclist most noted for his sprinting ability, the longevity of his dominance and his colourful personality. His nicknames include Il Re Leone and Super Mario...
said "I am devastated. It's a tragedy of enormous proportions for everyone involved in cycling. I'm lost for words."
Pantani was buried in his hometown, Cesenatico
Cesenatico
Cesenatico is a port town with about 20,000 inhabitants on the Adriatic coast of Italy. It is located in the province of Forlì-Cesena in the region of Emilia-Romagna, about 30 km south of Ravenna...
. Twenty thousand mourners were at his funeral, during which his manager Manuela Ronchi read from his diary:
Miguel Indurain
Miguel Indurain
Miguel Ángel Indurain Larraya is a retired Spanish road racing cyclist. He won five consecutive Tour de Frances from 1991 and 1995, the first to do so, and the fourth athlete to win five times. He won the Giro d'Italia twice, becoming one of only seven people in history to achieve the Giro Tour...
, five-times Tour de France
Tour de France
The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
winner, paid tribute by saying: "He got people hooked on the sport. There may be riders who have achieved more than him, but they never succeeded in drawing in the fans like he did."
Giro d'Italia
Giro d'Italia
The Giro d'Italia , also simply known as The Giro, is a long distance road bicycle racing stage race for professional cyclists held over three weeks in May/early June in and around Italy. The Giro is one of the three Grand Tours , and is part of the UCI World Ranking calendar...
's organizers decided to dedicate a mountain pass to Pantani's memory every year. In the 2004 edition
2004 Giro d'Italia
The 2004 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 87th running of the race, was held from 8 May to 30 May 2004, consisting of 21 stages for a total of 3,420 km, ridden at an average speed of 38.565 km/h. It was won by Damiano Cunego...
, the first Cima Pantani was Mortirolo Pass, a pass that played a key role in Pantani's history. When Mortirolo was included in the Giro for the third time in 1994, Pantani attacked and left everyone behind to earn a win at Aprica
Aprica
Aprica is a town and comune in the province of Sondrio, Lombardy, northern Italy. It is located on the eponymous pass, the most favourable one connecting Valtellina to Val Camonica.Its main activity is winter tourism.-External links:* * *...
.
The Memorial Marco Pantani
Memorial Marco Pantani
The Memorial Marco Pantani is professional road bicycle race held annually in Emilia-Romagna, Italy. The race has been organized since 2004 and serves as a memory of Marco Pantani. The race starts in Cesenatico, Marco Pantani hometown, and follows a route towards his birthplace, Cesena...
has been organized since 2004 in his memory. The race starts in Cesenatico
Cesenatico
Cesenatico is a port town with about 20,000 inhabitants on the Adriatic coast of Italy. It is located in the province of Forlì-Cesena in the region of Emilia-Romagna, about 30 km south of Ravenna...
, Pantani's hometown, and follows a route towards his birthplace, Cesena
Cesena
Cesena is a city and comune in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy, south of Ravenna and west of Rimini, on the Savio River, co-chief of the Province of Forlì-Cesena. It is at the foot of the Apennines, and about 15 km from the Adriatic Sea.-History:Cesena was originally an Umbrian...
.
The 16th stage of 2004 Tour de France
2004 Tour de France
The 2004 Tour de France was the 91st, taking place from July 3 to July 25, 2004. It consisted of 20 stages over 3391 km.Lance Armstrong became the first to win six Tours de France. Armstrong had been favored to win, his competitors seen as being German Jan Ullrich, Spaniards Roberto Heras and...
was dedicated to Pantani's memory. This stage was an individual time trial
Individual time trial
An individual time trial is a road bicycle race in which cyclists race alone against the clock . There are also track-based time trials where riders compete in velodromes, and team time trials...
up to Alpe d'Huez
Alpe d'Huez
L'Alpe d'Huez is a ski resort at . It is a mountain pasture in the Central French Alps, in the commune of Huez, in the Isère département in the Rhône-Alpes region.-Tour de France:L'Alpe d'Huez is one of the main mountains in the Tour de France...
, where Marco Pantani won in 1995
1995 Tour de France
The 1995 Tour de France was the 82nd Tour de France, taking place July 1 to July 23, 1995. It was Miguel Indurain's fifth and final victory in the Tour. On the fifteenth stage Italian rider Fabio Casartelli died after an accident on the Col de Portet d'Aspet....
and 1997
1997 Tour de France
The 1997 Tour de France was the 84th Tour de France, it took place July 5–27, 1997. Jan Ullrich's victory margin, of 9' 09" was the largest margin of victory since Laurent Fignon won the 1984 Tour de France by 10' 32"...
.
On June 19 of 2011 a new monument was inaugurated on Col du Galibier
Col du Galibier
Col du Galibier is a mountain pass in the southern region of the French Dauphiné Alps near Grenoble. It is the ninth highest paved road in the Alps and the sixth highest mountain pass. It is often the highest point of the Tour de France....
to celebrate Pantani's attack there in 1998.
Alleged drug use
Matt Rendell's biography of Pantani suggests Pantani used recombinant erythropoietinErythropoietin
Erythropoietin, or its alternatives erythropoetin or erthropoyetin or EPO, is a glycoprotein hormone that controls erythropoiesis, or red blood cell production...
(rEPO) throughout his professional career. It alleges that seasonal levels of hematocrit
Hematocrit
The hematocrit or packed cell volume or erythrocyte volume fraction is the percentage of the concentration of red blood cells in blood. It is normally about 45% for men and 40% for women...
from several sources showed variations which exceeded those possible naturally, and that Pantani's great victories were probably won thanks to hematocrit blood levels which could have been up to 60%.
Tour de France results
- 19941994 Tour de FranceThe 1994 Tour de France was the 81st Tour de France and included two stages in England , Stage 4, Dover to Brighton and Stage 5, around Portsmouth. It took place July 2 to July 24, 1994...
: 3rd overall; 2nd mountains classification; 1st young rider classificationYoung rider classification in the Tour de France-History:From 1968 to 1975, there was a white jersey awarded in the Tour de France to the lead rider in the combination classification . In 1975, this classification was removed, and replaced by the Best Young Rider Classification... - 19951995 Tour de FranceThe 1995 Tour de France was the 82nd Tour de France, taking place July 1 to July 23, 1995. It was Miguel Indurain's fifth and final victory in the Tour. On the fifteenth stage Italian rider Fabio Casartelli died after an accident on the Col de Portet d'Aspet....
: 13th overall; 1st young rider classificationYoung rider classification in the Tour de France-History:From 1968 to 1975, there was a white jersey awarded in the Tour de France to the lead rider in the combination classification . In 1975, this classification was removed, and replaced by the Best Young Rider Classification...
; Stage 10 and 14 wins - 19971997 Tour de FranceThe 1997 Tour de France was the 84th Tour de France, it took place July 5–27, 1997. Jan Ullrich's victory margin, of 9' 09" was the largest margin of victory since Laurent Fignon won the 1984 Tour de France by 10' 32"...
: 3rd overall; Stage 13 and 15 wins - 19981998 Tour de FranceThe 1998 Tour de France, also called the Tour du Dopage , was marred by doping scandals throughout known as the Festina affair, starting with the arrest of Willy Voet, a soigneur in the French Festina team. Voet was traveling into France when he was arrested and found with large quantities of...
:
1st overall general classification; 2nd mountains classification; Stage 11 and 15 wins - 20002000 Tour de FranceThe 2000 Tour de France was the 87th Tour de France, and took place from July 1 to July 23, 2000. It was won by American cyclist Lance Armstrong. The Tour started with an individual time trial in Futuroscope and ended traditionally in Paris. The distance travelled was 3662.5 km...
: Did not finish; Stage 12 and 15 wins
Giro d'Italia results
- 19941994 Giro d'ItaliaThe 1994 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 77th edition of the race, was held from 22 May to 12 June 1994, consisting of 22 stages. It covered a total of 3,738 km, completed at an average speed of 37.124 km/h...
: 2nd overall; 2nd young rider classification; 3rd mountains classification; Stage 14 and 15 wins - 19981998 Giro d'ItaliaThe 1998 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 81st running of the race, was held from 16 May to 7 June 1998. It covered , in 22 stages, and it was won by Marco Pantani....
:
1st overall (maglia rosa); 
1st mountains classification (maglia verde); Stage 14 and 19 wins - 19991999 Giro d'ItaliaThe 1999 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 82nd edition of the race, was held from 15 May to 6 June 1999. It covered in 22 stages. It was won by the Italian Ivan Gotti....
: Stage 8, 15, 19 and 20 wins - 20002000 Giro d'ItaliaThe 2000 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 83rd running of the race, was held from 13 May to 4 June 2000. It consisted of a prologue plus 21 stages, for a total of 3,676 km, ridden at an average speed of 37.684 km/h...
: 28th overall - 20032003 Giro d'ItaliaThe 2003 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 86th running of the race, was held from 10 May to 1 June 2003, consisting of 21 stages for a total of 3,472 km, ridden at an average speed of 38.828 km/h. It was won by Gilberto Simoni....
: 14th overall
Other stage races and classics
- UCI Road World Championships Road Race (1995): 3rd (Bronze Medal)
- Vuelta a MurciaVuelta a MurciaThe Vuelta Ciclista a Murcia is a road bicycle race held in and around Murcia, Spain. The race consists of a men's competition over five stages and is part of the UCI Europe Tour as a 2.1 event. The first four editions were reserved to amateurs....
(1999): 1st overall - Tour de SuisseTour de SuisseThe Tour de Suisse is a UCI World Tour stage race held annually in June. The race debuted in 1933 and has evolved in timing, duration and sponsorship. With the Critérium du Dauphiné, it is a proving ground for the Tour de France, and part of the UCI World Ranking calendar...
(1995): Stage 9 win - Setmana Catalana (1999): Stage 2 win
- Vuelta a MurciaVuelta a MurciaThe Vuelta Ciclista a Murcia is a road bicycle race held in and around Murcia, Spain. The race consists of a men's competition over five stages and is part of the UCI Europe Tour as a 2.1 event. The first four editions were reserved to amateurs....
(1998): 3rd overall; Stage 4a win - Summer OlympicsCycling at the 2000 Summer Olympics - Men's road raceThese are the official results of the Men's Individual Road Race at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. The race was held on Wednesday, September 27, 2000 with a race distance of 239.4 km...
Men's Road Race (2000): 69th place
Grand Tours overall classification results timeline
| Grand Tour | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Giro d'Italia The Giro d'Italia , also simply known as The Giro, is a long distance road bicycle racing stage race for professional cyclists held over three weeks in May/early June in and around Italy. The Giro is one of the three Grand Tours , and is part of the UCI World Ranking calendar... |
WD 1993 Giro d'Italia The 1993 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 76th edition of the race, was held from 23 May to 13 June 1993, consisting of 22 stages. It covered a total of 3,703 km, completed at an average speed of 37.723 km/h... |
2 1994 Giro d'Italia The 1994 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 77th edition of the race, was held from 22 May to 12 June 1994, consisting of 22 stages. It covered a total of 3,738 km, completed at an average speed of 37.124 km/h... |
- | - | WD 1997 Giro d'Italia The 1997 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 80th running of the race, was held from 17 May to 8 June 1997. It covered a total of 3,912 km, in 22 stages, completed at an average speed of 38.017 km/h. It was won by the Italian Ivan Gotti.- General classification :... |
1 1998 Giro d'Italia The 1998 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 81st running of the race, was held from 16 May to 7 June 1998. It covered , in 22 stages, and it was won by Marco Pantani.... |
WD 1999 Giro d'Italia The 1999 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 82nd edition of the race, was held from 15 May to 6 June 1999. It covered in 22 stages. It was won by the Italian Ivan Gotti.... |
28 2000 Giro d'Italia The 2000 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 83rd running of the race, was held from 13 May to 4 June 2000. It consisted of a prologue plus 21 stages, for a total of 3,676 km, ridden at an average speed of 37.684 km/h... |
WD 2001 Giro d'Italia The 2001 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 84th running of the race, was held from 19 May to 10 June 2001. It consisted of a prologue plus 21 stages with one rest days, for a total of 3,356 km, ridden at an average speed of 40.170 km/h. It was won by Gilberto Simoni.- Stages :-Jersey Progress:- General... |
WD 2002 Giro d'Italia The 2002 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 85th running of the race, was held from 11 May to 2 June 2002. It consisted of a prologue in Groningen plus 20 stages with two rest days, for a total of 3,354 km, ridden at an average speed of 37.567 km/h. It was won by the Italian Paolo... |
14 2003 Giro d'Italia The 2003 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 86th running of the race, was held from 10 May to 1 June 2003, consisting of 21 stages for a total of 3,472 km, ridden at an average speed of 38.828 km/h. It was won by Gilberto Simoni.... |
Tour de France The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The... |
- | 3 1994 Tour de France The 1994 Tour de France was the 81st Tour de France and included two stages in England , Stage 4, Dover to Brighton and Stage 5, around Portsmouth. It took place July 2 to July 24, 1994... |
13 1995 Tour de France The 1995 Tour de France was the 82nd Tour de France, taking place July 1 to July 23, 1995. It was Miguel Indurain's fifth and final victory in the Tour. On the fifteenth stage Italian rider Fabio Casartelli died after an accident on the Col de Portet d'Aspet.... |
- | 3 1997 Tour de France The 1997 Tour de France was the 84th Tour de France, it took place July 5–27, 1997. Jan Ullrich's victory margin, of 9' 09" was the largest margin of victory since Laurent Fignon won the 1984 Tour de France by 10' 32"... |
1 1998 Tour de France The 1998 Tour de France, also called the Tour du Dopage , was marred by doping scandals throughout known as the Festina affair, starting with the arrest of Willy Voet, a soigneur in the French Festina team. Voet was traveling into France when he was arrested and found with large quantities of... |
- | WD 2000 Tour de France The 2000 Tour de France was the 87th Tour de France, and took place from July 1 to July 23, 2000. It was won by American cyclist Lance Armstrong. The Tour started with an individual time trial in Futuroscope and ended traditionally in Paris. The distance travelled was 3662.5 km... |
- | - | - |
 Vuelta a España The Vuelta a España is a three-week road bicycle racing stage race that is one of the three "Grand Tours" of Europe and part of the UCI World Ranking calendar. The race lasts three weeks and attracts cyclists from around the world. The race is broken into day-long segments, called stages... |
- | - | WD 1995 Vuelta a España The 50th Vuelta a España , a long-distance bicycle stage race and one of the 3 grand tours, was held from September 2 to September 24, 1995. It consisted of 21 stages covering a total of 3750 km, and was won by Laurent Jalabert of the ONCE cycling team... |
- | - | - | - | - | WD 2001 Vuelta a España The 56th Vuelta a España , a long-distance stage race and one of the 3 Grand Tours, was held from September 8 to September 30, 2001... |
- | - |
WD = withdrew