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Letters to Cyclingnews - February 20, 2004
Special edition: Remembering Marco Pantani, part 2
The sudden death on Saturday of Italian climber and 1998 Tour de France winner Marco Pantani shocked the cycling world, and as Pantani's colleagues in the peloton paid tribute, so his achievements and the tragic end to his life were high in the minds of Cyclingnews readers too. Here are some more of your letters about Marco Pantani.
Sad and angryI cried when I heard about the death of Marco Pantani. I can't help but feel very bitter about what he has gone through since the '99 Giro. Cyclist are singled out and persecuted more than all the other sports men and women combined the world over. The extent that Marco was victimized - in the absence of any concrete evidence against him is absolutely shameful.. I hope all who saw fit to destroy him (now calling him a hero) are satisfied now. When will this cycle of needless deaths - for what ever reason - of our cycling men and women at all levels, from humble commuters to top level professionals end? Marco was the inspiration for many cyclists. I loved him and will never forget him. Ciao Pirata, you were one of a kind. Mike McBeath TearsAddio, Pirata! With tears in my eyes I remember all your great climbs and I know: like Coppi you will never die in the hearts of your tifosi. Now you climbed out of this world. Your hunters - politicians, jugdes, coroners, journalists - now may celebrate in triumph, thinking that they have hunted you down at last. In reality once again you left all behind in a mountain stage... Grazie Marco! Karl-Heinz Oberwinkler Depression and cyclingPantani. What is it about this sport that the incidence of depression among the very small population of ranked riders overwhelms by an order of magnitude what is experienced in other sports? Note the order of the above names. Rather than send sentiments into the ether following the death of one who suffers depression, let us look to those who live with it and offer them what friendship, comfort, and help we can. Richard Rosenthal A grown man's heroI am deeply saddened by the death of Pantani. Without him knowing me, he played a part in helping me overcome a traumatic period in my life and I am only sorry that I could not help him. My cycling career started at 51, I was suffering from depression and felt that I had very little to live for. As a young man Felice Gimondi and Tommy Simpson were my heroes and it was heartwarming to read the kind words the Gimondi had to say about the loss of Marco. I followed my hero Marco, yes even adult men have their heroes. I copied everything there was too copy about Marco Pantani, thankfully climbing is my forte so amongst my veteran team mates, riding my Bianchi with team clothing I soon became "Pantani". Marco Pantani was a symbol of youthfulness, adventure and courage, and I shall miss him. Reflecting of the passing of Marco one can wonder at the the morality and empathy of the bureaucrats, people who should display a better understanding of the psyche of a top sportsman. Why Marco. Knowing the potential consequences of making a scapegoat of a person in the public eye why could they not find a more humane way of tackling the drug problem. How many in the peloton at the time that Marco was removed from the Giro were "clean"? Come on guys, own up... a fellow cyclist, a friend, a rival, a hero, Marco Pantani is dead! Next time, who knows it could be you! Angry you bet I am! Deeply saddened... but Marco, you are still my hero! Rest in Peace. Kevin Donovan Sailed awaySad, The hero "Il Pirate" has sailed away to the seven seas. We will miss you at top of the mountain. Mikael Jenei The climberTo the memory of Marco Pantani, The Climber! We will always remember You as the BIGGEST! We have a cycling jersey with Your autograf and it will hang in the best place in our bikeshop! Thank You Marco! Timo Pekkanen, Gottsunda Cykel ShatteredWe are completely shattered by this news. Really, really, really saddened by it. Jiminez just a couple of months ago and now the great Marco Pantani. Why? Is it the nature of the profession? The demands of the sponsors, directors and public? Or is it just that some riders are not as mentally able to handle the ups and downs of their careers? Whatever the reason he shouldn't have gone this way. He gave us SO much. Mille grazie Marco. Il Pirata. Il Campionissimo. Il Scalatore Supremo. You will NEVER be forgotten. Rafique Rashid MourningMr Marco Pantani in memoriam! All the members of Double Diamond Dimension Society, hardcore cycling club are mourning today. But while remembering You Marco we'll train even harder and raise our helmets on the top of Passo Stelvio this summer. Ride In Peace DDDS Subject: The Road Goes Ever On Pantani -- Pure Poetry in Motion Rarely is there a day more fitting for poetry than Valentine's Day for those we love and adore along life's path. And, so rare it is to find pure poetry in motion more gratifying than the clever climbing cadence of Marco Pantani. As you continue on your journey skyward, Marco, so too shall we continue on ours, for we are so richly blessed for having had you along for the ride, forever side by side. Until we meet again, dear friend, somewhere down along that road so hard to tread. The Road Goes Ever On Roads go ever ever on, Roads go ever ever on The Road goes ever on and on The Road goes ever on and on -- J R R Tolkien Upon your final ascension into the heavens, Marco, know you are loved and may you forever rest in peace. Along your spirited journey, over hill and dale, you were poetry in motion 'Il Pirata, ' strong wind in our sails. You lifted our spirits, we felt lighter than air, as you sailed ever higher, with sheer elegance and flair! You grabbed hold of Cupid's arrow long ago, it is known, and you sailed straight into our hearts forever. I rarely have been more alive than when I was watching you aim high. A true inspiration you were, campione supremo, and such grand exhilaration you shared with us all. You shall forever live within our hearts and souls... this Valentine's Day... and always. Godspeed Marco. And, God bless. Mark CharismaLife is hard and arduous at times and regrettably "il Parata" was latterly subjected to all that is not wanted in life. But hopefully Marco Pantani will like the late great Tom Simpson be remembered for the sheer charisma, spectacular ability, and the great crowd puller that he was. Arguably the biggest draw in cycling in the 90's and deserves to be remembered in the Hinault, LeMond, Indurain, Armstrong, Fignon, Gaul, Anquetil, Merckx et al category. Tragically Marco did not have the mental strength to overcome his problems and rise above them, like Richard Virenque has so successfully done. But let none of us dwell on the dark side of Marco, this guy, he wore the Maillot Jaune 6 times and the Maglia Rosa 14 times in his career, deserves to be remembered as an all time great. Hopefully we can all recall his great, great victories, in what is the toughest and most arduous of sports known to mankind. Thanks for the memory Marco Peter Deep emotionsGood bye Marco, I hope to see you again in another life climbing the clouds. I think that many people must feel guilty for what they said and did against you after Giro '99. I find incredible that people as Leblanc, Tour de France organizer, that for the last years had persisted in denying the possibility to you to take part in Tour, using very bad words about you, yesterday said that died the best climber of the world, with an unbelievable hypocrisy. Now nothing of this poor people can touch you, I hope you have finally found the peace you needed and you can feel our love that will last for ever. Many thanks for the deep emotions you gave us. Good bye Pirata, THE CLIMBER. Francesco Dini OutrageousI wanted to send in a letter, although not sure what to say, I've always watched cycling, I think it is a great sport, one of the best! However, when a rider like Marco Pantani, one of the best ever, is suspected from anything or nothing the whole world turns against him and the witch hunt starts. These situations are outrageous, since when are people/you guilty and YOU have to prove your own innocence. It does not work that way in the legal system, why does it work that way with cycling? I saw last year's Giro, and was hoping Marco Pantani would do great things, it was great to see him competing again. It's very sad that will be the last we'll ever see from him. Certain people should be deeply ashamed of what they have done & harvested, hopefully this can and will change before they'll hurt more cyclists. Antoinette SpecialHe was special, I will miss him. Margit Odin Ireland, 1998It is now the 16th February and I am still coming to terms with the terrible news about Marco Pantani's untimely death. I want to extend my condolences to his family and his friends and to all cycling fans around the world. This has been a very, very black weekend for our sport. I remember how I felt pride and joy when the TdF came to our country in 1998, and I well remember watching the prologue in Dublin and watching Boardman, Ullrich and Pantani cycling on our roads. I was thrilled to see the 1998 Giro champion here in this country, this country that gave the cycling world Elliot, Kelly and Roche. I felt honoured that the man who had danced away from Indurain on the Alpe D'Huez, had come to my country to cycle in the biggest race in the world. I watched you go cycle past me, Marco, at Christchurch - and you finished 181st in that prologue. Less than three weeks later, you had won the TDF and added it to your Giro win in that same year. These thoughts have been with me since, I got that terrible, terrible news. And you know, I feel angry. I feel angry with the way you were treated by the sport, I feel angry with the way the TDF turned its back on you. I feel angry at the way, the people who should have supported you, left you when you needed them most. I have as a screensaver on my PC, it's that great photograph taken at the TDF presentation in October 2002, it's called a Photograph for the ages : the photo contains all 21 living TDF champions in Paris at the 2003 TDF presentation. You're there, Marco, in the front row beside Stephen Roche and Pedro Delgado. Ullrich and Armstrong are standing behind you. BigMig and the Badger are to your left, and Eddy Merckx is directly behind you too. Fitting company, champion. Fitting company. May you rest in peace. Seamus Weber Birthdays should be happyLike he had done on so many memorable occasions before, one of cycling's great champions left the peloton behind in his wake. Unfortunately this time, he also left the world behind, for that one last, long ascent into the heavens. I turned 43 on the 14th February and was saddened to read of the death of Marco Pantani. His greatness will surely now be immortalized for posterity in videos and magazines. Sadly, it will be recorded in my memories as a birthday that was too tragic to celebrate. I DID go out for my daily ride, sweating astride my bike in the tropical heat, trying to emulate Pantani's feats of magic in the mountains, on one of my insignificant little climbs. It wasn't until I had returned from a 3 hour ride with a group of friends the next day that I learnt of Marco Pantani's demise. The irony was that one of the group, a newcomer to road cycling made mention of yet ANOTHER cyclist, a 34 year old Italian who was found dead. At 7:30 am Sunday morning, on the way to one of our regular training routes, my best friend Xavier and I discussed the poor state of affairs that cycling finds itself in at present. But this was no ordinary cyclist and certainly no ordinary Italian cyclist. This was one of cycling's greats who has left behind a legacy. I have read about the impact he had on a million faceless cyclists and fans who wished to be just like the Pirate. Like many cyclists and spectators, I too was privileged to see him outclimbing the likes of Lance and Jan, winning the GIRO and THE TOUR ! Scapegoat or NOT. Alleged drugs or NOT. Now that he HAS left our midst, everybody from supposed anti-doping activists to the media and press, want to remember and applaud the champion. If my memory serves me correct, it was a certain 5 time Tour winner who coined the phrase "Elefantino". Now that was a great sign of sportsmanship from one champion to another wasn't it. And it's NOT the first time we have heard of such unprofessional behaviour either. I believe Chiappucci was once dubbed Cappuccino ! Did such derision trigger a irreversible reaction or in the end contribute to the overall effect - it's irrelevant now. What is relevant, is that we ALL learn from our experiences. I hope that maybe in future, sportsmen and competitors alike will be more thoughtful before blatantly ridiculing fellow competitors especially a champion the caliber of Pantani. It's a nice thought to wish for but reality has taught us NOT to hold our breath as the moral fiber of the world dwindles day by day ! Basically there's no room in ANY sport for derision and politics. That's why it's called "sport" and "sportsmanship". Like everything, this honorable philosophy has been debased and defiled for nothing more than personal gain. In the intensity of winning, above and beyond everything and anything, we thoughtlessly throw such values out the window. Another high profile Tour organizer has now "promised" to find a way to pay homage to one of the most popular Italian riders in recent decades. Where was he AND everybody else, what was he AND everybody else doing, when this champion needed the same degree of respect and homage. Turning the champion away, adding to his misery. "Et too Brutus" And all this for the little guy in the bandanna who drew fans to cycling like a magnet, when cycling was shaking at its foundations following the Festina debacle? The people's cyclist, mixing it with the fans - a person's person, a cyclist's cyclist. The hypocrisy of it all, is that people of ALL walks of life pretend to live their lives supposedly by the highest moral standards. They pride themselves on false precepts and prosper at the suffering of others. Wallow in your successes and fortunes, and enjoy the rewards of your hollow victories NOW ! Too late for the family that more than anybody else is grieving at the
loss of a son and brother. I am an eternal optimist and like to believe that it's never TOO late, that maybe there is always a ray of hope. Now more than ever, cycling needs more colorful characters the likes of Pantani and fewer LeBlancs or Donati's. May the grief, misery and loss of Pantani serve as a catalyst to draw the ranks of professional cyclists much more closer together than ever before. Do NOT allow the world of cycling to suffer another such heart wrenching loss. Marco's consolation is that he has finally left all of the pain and anguish behind, hopefully for a happier place where he can ride his bike with the likes of fellow champions like Coppi and Anquetil. Under the circumstances, I feel it pertinent to act selfishly (for honorable reasons) and try to gain some personal satisfaction on this sad day, MY birthday. So I plan to enjoy a belated birthday present from myself to me - the pleasure of picturing this little battler sporting a white bandanna scaling up through the clouds on his bike as the rest of the cycling world below pants and languor's in his wake - especially the hordes that ridiculed and bickered without having ever endured the toil and pain that heroes like Pantani suffered. Now that's a birthday present worthy of this Sophoclean tragedy. Lost but definitely NEVER forgotten Championisimo. Bill Bakopanos The best way to appreciate a mountain roadI hadn't ridden a bike for 15 years, since I was a teenager, but watching his dramatic performance on the Alps in 1998 inspired me to buy a bike and, eventually, to ride those same climbs. He showed me the best way to appreciate a mountain road is on two wheels. Richard Marston Marco PantaniA sad time for cycling I was very sad to hear the news of Pantani's death. A tragic loss of a great public character. His flamboyant style lit up any race he was in. He has left many great memories, particularly of his victories in the two great tours of France and Italy. Unfortunately his private anguish was not recognised by many. Rest in peace... Pete Lucas Where have all these sympathetic hearts been?Where have all these sympathetic hearts been? Marco Pantani's death has really bothered me. Perhaps because I have ridden countless rides listening to people condemn him (and others) without even knowing him. We cycling fans are the one's to blame for this media feeding frenzy that surrounds the accusations of doping, when we should be outraged that our sport is unfairly singled out. Perhaps now, we'll give these guys the benefit of doubt when there is no proof of wrongdoing. Somehow, I feel like we are all to blame. Jeff Oliver StunnedAs I write this, the reality of Marco's death still hasn't really sunk in. My first reaction to CyclingNews's newsflash was one of stunned disbelief. This was a man who had never been found guilty of doping, whom had never tested positive for any illegal drug. Yet following the 1999 Giro he was treated as a leper and a criminal. I am appalled and angry at the way Pantani was hounded, yes hounded, to his death by certain parts of the cycling community and the Italian authorities. He was pursued in one legal case after another brought by frankly, ambitious Italian prosecutors who wanted to make a name for themselves. Well I hope that they are satisfied with the results that they've obtained. I'll choose to remember Marco as the greatest climber I've seen. Forza Marco, may you rest in peace. Dave McDougall LeBlancExcuse my French, but how else to describe Jean-Marie Leblanc than as a ******** hypocrite when he talks of Pantani as 'the greatest climber of these last 10 years' etc. etc. after having banned him from taking part in the Tour de France? This incident almost certainly contributed to Marco's sorry state. The Pope of modern cycling really doesn't know the first thing about decency. Sometimes it's better not to say anything. Pantani didn't say much, he just raced up those mountains faster than anyone else; what a guy! Nique De Kelver Jos Vanormelingen Fatal attractionSome riders got it, others don't. Marco Pantani was for many people the most popular rider. His fatal attraction his attacking skills when the mountains came. I am watching cycling for many years now, but no rider makes cycling so exciting as he does. If I went to the Alpes to do the Galibier, D'Iozard and other mountains myself(Like a child )I wanted to be Pantani when the road went up. Last year when I was on vacation by bike and watching the Tour de France I saw Marco Pantani in the downhill of Alpe d'Huez. He rode all alone and we thought(and hoped) already of a comeback. He was riding his Alpe d'Huez, but at the meantime the Centenary was being hold a few kilometres away. He was supposed to be there and not riding his mountain all alone. I think that the Italian law needed someone to pointing the finger and that became Marco Pantani. When you've had done sacrifices for cycling all your life and do it for the people, riders and sponsors like he did, then is it wrong to see him as THE BAD GUY all of a sudden. I think he couldn't live with that and got more and more negative. I thank him for the wonderful things he did for us on the bike and will always remember him as a great rider, personality and cycling hero. My condolences to his family, (real) friends and other ones who knew him well. R.I.P. Marco Guido Hermans Witch huntIt is always disheartening to see a great champion fall as hard as Marco Pantani has. It must have been a lot more than just difficult for him being prone to depression to have been hounded by the media and police for the past six years. Much has been made in the past of his unproven "doping". the simple truth is this, if the UCI and WADA adopted uniform controls and penalties there would not have been such a protracted witch hunt in his case. Was it a witch hunt? Let's use something not very prevalent in the media today: common sense. What are the chances that a star who lived his life under the spotlight and continual doping tests would KNOWINGLY leave a SYRINGE in his hotel room? Is there any reader at this site whose IQ is so impaired as to believe that? I hope the prosecutor that oversaw that investigation is enjoying the promotion he received as a result of his diligence. He should, it cost Pantani his life... There was a glorious side to Marco we should never forget but we should also not brush this affair under the carpet.... there needs to be another investigation into this investigation: to make sure the perpetrators of that terrible lie are not allowed to continue in the future with the kind of behavior that leads to outcomes like this. Yes there is some doping in the peloton that needs to be stopped but there is also misguided prosecutorial misconduct in the ranks of the police that needs to be stopped before it destroys more lives and careers. Gordon Gross The man who crushed IndurainThe greatest climber ever passed the other day. I lived in Italy most of the 90`s and could follow his rise from the man who crushed Indurain on the Tour climbs in the mid-1990`s with devastating attacks to 1999 where "il Pirata" was stopped after the victory on Madonna di Campiglio due to high hematocrit levels. In these short years Pantani gave me the most memorable moments that I have ever experienced in international cycling. He was a rider who used to ride himself in form during the last week of the Giro, and went to the Tour further increasing his form. I remember the less than 2 km of the last climb of the 1998 Giro. Marco needed to go away from Pavel Tonkov to get some more seconds before the time-trial. Tonkov was in great shape and wouldn`t let go. Then "il pelato" made the most incredible attack ever in modern cycling, and flied away like an eagle to the summit leaving Tonkov more then a minute behind in just a few meters. I have never ever seen anything like that. In 1999 he was just awesome, he even was among the best in time-trial. After Madonna he was never given the peace and calm to return on high levels. He was idolized like no other modern cyclist. He will always be the king of climbing. Kris Krogh Remembering Marco Pantani, Part 3 Recent letters pages
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