Marco Pantani

Marco Pantani!

 

 

 

Marco Pantani (Cesena, January 13, 1970 - Rimini, 14 February 2004) was an Italian road cyclist, was a pure climber [2]. Professional from 1992 to 2003, won a Tour of Italy and Tour de France and was also a bronze medal at the World Championships in the 1995 line.

Nicknamed "the Pirate" got its best results in stage races: it is still the last Italian to have won the Tour de France in 1998 (33 years after Felice Gimondi) and the last rider ever after Fausto Coppi, Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, Stephen Roche and Miguel Indurain to win the Giro and the Tour that year.

Excluded from the Tour in 1999 following a hematocrit value above the allowed Pantani suffered from the media hype generated by the event and, while again not long after the races, only occasionally reached levels which had been used. Fell into depression and died February 14, 2004 in Rimini, from cardiac arrest due to excessive drug use. In 46 career victories won.

Pantani is considered, along with Gino Bartali, Charly Gaul and Federico Bahamontes, one of the greatest climbers of all ages. [3] After his death, Lance Armstrong, seven times winner of the Tour de France, said that Pantani was the greatest climber of all time, [4] the same Charly Gaul said that Pantani was probably even stronger than him. [5]

Career The beginnings and early years in professionismoDopo being a football player, received a bicycle as a gift from his grandfather Sotero. He decided to tile in G.C. Fausto Coppi of Cesenatico and immediately showed undoubted talents of great climber, winning many races. In 1990 he was third in the Tour of Italy amateur, in 1991 the second and won in 1992 ahead of Vincenzo Galati and Andrea Noe. In 1993 he participated in the first Tour of Italy for professionals, retired after a few steps for tendinitis [6].

In 1994 it passed to David Carrera del ds Boifava. Its explosion occurred as a professional cyclist in the Tour of Italy that year, with stage wins in Merano, at the opening and the second in the final overall standings, behind Yevgeny Berzin. [7] The population of 'snapped the Mortirolo Aprica, leaving behind the Russian Yevgeny Berzin and Spaniard Miguel Indurain: after taking breath, and he gets back from Indurain, the pass of Santa Cristina hung up going to win the stage. Making its debut at the Tour de France finished third in the standings, behind Miguel Indurain and Latvian Pyotr Ugrumov, also won the white jersey for best young rider. At the stage of Val Thorens, despite a bad fall, he managed to remove all the stronger and reach the finish line third. [8]

1995: The first serious incidenteMentre was in full preparation for the Tour of Italy 1995, a car accident forced him to focus on the Tour de France. The French race was soon, in part because of the conditions of the knee, to have a big delay from the peak of the race. On July 12, Alpe d'Huez, however, went on the attack 13 km from the finish, took the main rivals, reached and passed the group of heads being able to get the stage victory. A few days later, in the Pyrenean stage of Guzet Neige, found the second win, this time after a long flight of 42 km. Ending la Grande Boucle in thirteenth position overall, winning the white jersey again.

Disputatio World Championship in Colombia that year, he finished third behind Miguel Indurain and Abraham Olano. Just when it seemed the beginning of a great career, Oct. 18, on the descent of Pino Torinese, he was hit by an SUV that was traveling in the opposite direction on the location of the race during the Milan-Turin. He was admitted to the CTO of Turin where he was found a fracture of tibia and fibula and the risk of a premature interruption of racing. However, after 5 months and 5 days after the accident he returned to cycling. [9] [10]

1996-1997: the return and third place in July and September of 1996 TourFra Pantani racing in a dozen official competitions in preparation for next season. [10] For 1997 he moved to the new Mercatone Uno team sponsored by Romano Cenni and built around the Romagna to point to the grand tours. But bad luck was still around the corner: the Tour of Italy Pantani suffered another accident, in an interim stage of the race, the descent of the pass Chiunzi, at km 182, due to a cat that had crossed the road to passage of the group. He managed to finish the stage with teammates in the hospital but found to have suffered a laceration of an inch in muscle fibers of the left thigh. He abandoned the race.

"I wanted to be beaten by their opponents, but once again I beat the bad luck '

(Pantani, 25 May 1997 [11])

This time it recovered quickly and returned to riding in the Tour that year, where he struggled for a long time for the yellow jersey, bringing two more stage wins, even at the Alpe d'Huez, pulling Ullrich and Virenque, [12] and Morzine. In particular, the ascent to Alpe d'Huez traveled in 37 minutes and 35 seconds, a record. [13] While prevailing on the climbs of the Alps and the Pyrenees, was passed in the standings by Ullrich, who managed to recover the lost time through the time trials, in which was stronger, bringing the yellow jersey to Paris; Pantani stood third in the final standings behind even Richard Virenque.

1998: the double Giro-Tournel 1998 and participated for the first time, came in the Tour of Italy. Rivaling the time trial specialists like Alex Zülle, and was repeatedly attacked on the climbs in this way, although the path is not the facilitator for a few mountains, [citation needed] unable to earn enough margin that they can offset their weakness in time trials. Pantani took the pink jersey - gave it to him Zülle - June 2, at the end of the village of Selva di Val Gardena, and the next day checked his nearest rival, Pavel Tonkov, in the stage of Alpe di Pampeago. Crucial was the village of Plan Montecampione, June 4: Pantani, the occasion, with Zülle now drifting (that day lost more than half an hour), repeatedly attacked Tonkov. The Russian, after a fierce duel, had to give a person suffering of about one minute in the last two kilometers, while the Romagna went on to win the stage and to mortgage the ultimate success. Pantani in the Tour that year made her even climbing the rankings by beating José Jaime González.

After tackling a proper preparation, [14] went to the Tour de France the same year with ambitions of winning. French won the race if he, finally beat Jan Ullrich and became the first Italian to triumph in the Tour since Felice Gimondi, winner in 1965. [15] [16] After the first ten stages Pantani was almost 5 minutes from German to recover (had lost 4'21 "on the clock Corrèze): then went to the attack during the fifteenth village, on the Col du Galibier in nearly 50 kilometers from the finish, and came to Les Deux Alpes in solitary, with nearly nine minutes advantage over his rival. That day he also took the yellow jersey, [17], definitively: the gap in general after that historic undertaking, was never filled, and Pantani went to the edition number 85 of the Grande Boucle. Not since Lucien Van prevent a climber that "pure" did not win the final standings of the French race. [citation needed]

1999: Madonna's episode of the 1999 season, Pantani CampiglioPer tip at the Giro. In fact, immediately showed to be in good condition to obtain the fraction of the Gran Sasso, the first uphill finish. On the ascent of Oropa, after a jump of chain a few miles from the finish, takes up the opponent, and wins them over the stage. After the localities of Alpe di Pampeago and Madonna di Campiglio seems that no one can take away the Giro, but the day after the stage of Madonna di Campiglio, namely, 5 June 1999 are found abnormally high levels of hematocrit in the blood Pirata, which is a result of the Giro allonatanato [18].

Pantani was suspended for 15 days, which meant the exclusion from the Giro. In practice, Pantani's career ends with this episode. After breaking a glass in anger at the inn, [19] surrounded by reporters and accompanied by the police as he was leaving the race, said:

"I got up after so many injuries and returned to run. But this time we have hit bottom. Rise will be very difficult for me. "

(Marco Pantani [19])

Things changed for Pantani in the Tour in 1999 on the morning of June 5, 1999 in Madonna di Campiglio when they were made public the results of examinations of the stage the previous day, and it was demonstrated in the blood of Pantani a level of red blood cells than allowed. The hematocrit value was in fact found in Pantani by 52%, over the tolerance margin of 1% of the maximum permitted by the regulations as opposed to 50% [19].

Pantani to that stage could have been further consecration, having regard to the plan against him: departure from Madonna di Campiglio, Aprica arrival, after climbing the Mortirolo and over 50 km of climbing. The Romagna, among others, had already topped the charts with more than five minutes on the second. The stage was eventually won by Iberia Roberto Heras. Paolo Savoldelli, although it was taken over first place in the standings of the Tour, he refused to put the pink jersey, the symbol of leadership, risking a ban. The Pirate's team, the Mercatone Uno-Bianchi, withdrew from the Giro.

Pantani refused to participate in the next Tour de France, although the sentence imposed 15-day suspension would have allowed him. [19] [20]

Pantani is never positive in a doping control although it was legitimately excluded from the race according to sporting regulations. [21] The only associations with the Pirate's doping practices are related to the statements of Jesus Manzano, confessed, citing Pantani in an environment in which cyclists are accused several high-level of the nineties, organizers, sponsors and technical [22], and those of Christina Jonsson, Pantani's girlfriend for seven years, in an interview with the magazine L'Hebdo reported that Swiss I did the Pirate regular use [23].

Are fed as a result of concerns about a possible "conspiracy" against Pantani. Renato Vallanzasca famous letter to the mother of the cyclist, Tonina, 8 November 2007. In short Vallanzasca argues that one of his friends, regulars of the illegal betting, it has approached five days before the "fact" of Madonna di Campiglio advised him to bet on defeat in the final rankings for Pantani, and assuring him that "the tour definitely will not win him. "[24]

Pantani did not participate voluntarily in the Tour of '99 for the matter of Madonna di Campiglio.

At that time the bike did most of his life. Hounded by the media and in the throes of a severe depression, Marco remained closed in the house. He walked away from cycling, and the few times back in the saddle, was the victim of abuse of passers-by who branded a doped. The winter time harder for a cyclist, it was a difficult time for Pantani. Even then emerged the effects of cocaine.

2000: The second coming

Pantani in 2000Pantani returns to racing in 2000 but despite being in shape, the main difficulty was psychological.

Mark struggled to get going and prepare for the tour became more and more fragmented to become non-existent. The problem of cocaine was later passed, but in view of the Giro, the physical preparation was not for a race so hard. One is now in the Mercatone around without a thought of Mark, with Garzelli captain, but, surprisingly, Mark participated in the Tour, making themselves available for Garzelli, promising youngster. In fact, the nine seats in the Mercatone One for the Giro were for Garzelli, De Paoli, Veil, Zaina, Brignoli, Borgheresi, Forconi, Fontanelli and Podenzana which is sacrificed to make way for Pantani. [25] His evidence was clear for its shape is not optimal. He was off and climbs do not shine like his heyday. Resources instead sull'Izoard where the captain had to be gregarious Garzelli, then won the general classification, and went to grab a second place in a stage that had high hopes for its rebirth.

Punta throughout the Tour, where he met Lance Armstrong, future editions of the following undisputed winner. Since the first villages in the Pyrenees and the Pirate accumulate a considerable delay. It redeems the Alps: July 13 in the Mont Ventoux stage of upping the U.S. getting the stage win. [26] Subsequently, Armstrong, openly stated in an interview that he had left the Pirates to victory and this will trigger the Pantani's anger. On July 16 in the stage of Courchevel Pantani trip: meet Richard Virenque and Armstrong. After a few km off Virenque and Pantani and Armstrong have only. After Roberto Heras and Javier Otxoa reach the two, Pantani attacked on the site, leaving opponents to 5 km from the finish. José María Jiménez reaches and off and went on to win solo, pulling the same well-Armstrong 51 / 2, [27] but his joy, so low, it seems to hide a sad truth: that will be his last victory as a professional. The next day, in the stage of Morzine with hard Col de Joux-Plane just before the finish line, Pantani attacked on the first climb, trying to recover the gap in the standings. The lack of collaboration with fellow escape the heat and intestinal problems (diarrhea), however, forced him to retire from the "Grand Boucle." [28] "I tried to blow up the Tour, I jumped," he said after arriving at the finish with 13'44 "of the late stage winner Richard Virenque. [28] In 2001 and 2002 participated in the Tour of Italy but getting poor results.

Pantani decided to retire causing the cursing of the media, who believe that Pantani has found a way to bypass the anti-doping control on the following day [29].

Gets two more victories in the criterium, including the Acht van Chaam.

2001-2003: prostrated in the depressioneOrmai more moral, partly because of the ongoing process for sporting fraud, brought against him for acts dating back to 1995, [citation] involved in the Tour of Italy 2001, but withdrew before the 19 th stage. At the Tour de France but his team is not invited. Let's start to be away from the image of a professional rider and suspicions between the processes of justice and sports, where the condemned and then perform, Pantani is not able to find the serenity needed to go racing again. [30]

In 2003 she returned to prepare for the Tour for the Tour at the Giro d'Italy fought head to head with the best coming fourteenth in the overall standings (after the disqualification of the thirteenth Raimondas Rumsas, 6 º). During the stage of the Monte Zoncolan reacted at the click of Gilberto Simoni, who had removed all, began chasing and the only one to hold his pace was Stefano Garzelli, but the energy costs fell in the final and finished fifth. At the stage of Cascata del Toce made his last shot at being picked up by 3 km from the arrival Simoni and finishing eighth.

On June 21, 2003 Pantani went to a clinic in North Italy specializing in the treatment of depression and alcohol dependence, and emerge in early July to continue with personal medical care [31].

MorteIl February 14, 2004, Marco Pantani was found dead in room D5 of the residence "Le Rose" in Rimini. [19] An autopsy revealed that death was caused by pulmonary and cerebral edema, resulting in an overdose of cocaine [32].

An autopsy on the body of the sample after the tragic death and in particular the analysis of bone marrow has ruled that Pantani had been used frequently and in large amount of EPO during his career. [33]

The death of Pantani dismay fans of cycling, the loss of a great racer, one of the most popular Italian sport of post-war player in better or worse than many companies [34].

The remains of Marco Pantani in Cesenatico are buried in the cemetery.

To commemorate his skills as a climber, since 2004 the Tour of Italy awards each year to climb (the "Representative") under the title "Mountain Pantani" honor awarded until then only the great champion Fausto Coppi, the "Cima Coppi "(the highest pass route from the Giro). In 2004, the climb was the Mortirolo, in 2005 the Passo delle Erbe, in 2006 again Mortirolo, in 2007 the slope that leads to the Sanctuary of Oropa, where Pantani won the Tour in 1999. In 2008 once again Mortirolo, the stage of the May 31, and the Col d'Izoard in 2009.

In November of 2010 is exhibited at the Museo del Ghisallo the yellow jersey of the Tour Pantani obtained in 1998, after which the mesh is stolen and is no longer found. [35] It seems that thieves are the two guardians of the Bicycle of Rho, which then sold the shirt of pirate, November 7.