Marco Pantani

Marco Pantani (13 January 1970 – 14 February 2004) was an Italian professional cyclist. He was born in Cesena, Emilia-Romagna. He was very good at climbing mountains in races. In 1998 he won both the Tour de France and the Giro d'Italia. He was a popular cyclist, and his Italian fans gave him the nickname 'Il Pirata' (the pirate) because of his appearance (he often wore a bandana) and because of his aggressive riding style. He failed a test in the 1999 Giro d'Italia. He returned to cycling, but never won a major race again. In June of 2003 he went into hospital with depression. He died of a cocaine overdose in 2004 in Rimini, Emilia-Romagna. His last entry in his diary read:

 Major results 

Tour de France results
1994: 3rd overall; 2nd mountains classification; 20px1st young rider classification (Maillot blanc)
1995: 13th overall; 20px1st young rider classification (Maillot blanc); Stage 10 and 14 wins
1997: 3rd overall; Stage 13 and 15 wins
1998: 20px1st overall (maillot jaune); 7 days in maillot jaune; 2nd mountains classification; Stage 11 and 15 wins
2000: Did not finish; Stage 12 and 15 wins

 Giro d'Italia results 
 1994: 2nd overall; 2nd young rider classification; 3rd mountains classification; Stage 14 and 15 wins
 1998: 20px1st overall (maglia rosa); 20px1st mountains classification (maglia verde); Stage 14 and 19 wins
 1999: Stage 8, 15, 19 and 20 wins
 2000: 28th overall
 2003: 14th overall

 Other stage races and classics 
 UCI Road World Championships Road Race (1995): 3rd (Bronze Medal)
 Vuelta a Murcia (1999): 1st overall
 Tour de Suisse (1995): Stage 9 win
 Setmana Catalana (1999): Stage 2 win
 Vuelta a Murcia (1998): 3rd overall; Stage 4a win
 Summer Olympics Men's Road Race (2000): 69th place

Other websites
Italian Official website
Fansite 
Selection of videos of Marco Pantani in the alps 

References

Further reading

Category:1970 births
Category:2004 deaths
Category:2000 Summer Olympics
Category:Drug-related deaths
Category:Italian cyclists
Category:Olympians for Italy
Category:Sportspeople from Emilia-Romagna
Category:People from Cesena
Category:Tour de France winners