I
Isidor Gunsberg
Guest
A sad loss of one of the most colorful and charismatic figures in cycling, and the last racer to
achieve the feat of winning 2 Grand Tours (Il Giro d'Italia and Le Tour de France) in a single
year (1998)
Pantani found dead in Rimini — Italy in shock
Marco Pantani, the former Tour de France and Giro d'Italia champion, was found dead today
(Saturday) in an apartment block in Rimini, the resort town on the Italian Adriatic coast. He was
34. His body was discovered by police, called to the scene by the manager of the apartments.
According to initial reports in Italy tonight (Saturday), his death was not violent although
one Spanish source has contradicted this. However, there will be an autopsy to establish the
cause of death.
[.....]by last year's Giro it was clear he was a spent and increasingly troubled force.
That impression — and his later treatment for depression and substance addiction — led many to fear
for his welfare. Even so, few would have expected this tragic and untimely end for an athlete who
was once widely seen as the most thrilling and charismatic talent in his sport.
http://www.procycling.com/news_main.asp?newsId=4923
http://www.velonews.com/news/fea/5556.0.html
achieve the feat of winning 2 Grand Tours (Il Giro d'Italia and Le Tour de France) in a single
year (1998)
Pantani found dead in Rimini — Italy in shock
Marco Pantani, the former Tour de France and Giro d'Italia champion, was found dead today
(Saturday) in an apartment block in Rimini, the resort town on the Italian Adriatic coast. He was
34. His body was discovered by police, called to the scene by the manager of the apartments.
According to initial reports in Italy tonight (Saturday), his death was not violent although
one Spanish source has contradicted this. However, there will be an autopsy to establish the
cause of death.
[.....]by last year's Giro it was clear he was a spent and increasingly troubled force.
That impression — and his later treatment for depression and substance addiction — led many to fear
for his welfare. Even so, few would have expected this tragic and untimely end for an athlete who
was once widely seen as the most thrilling and charismatic talent in his sport.
http://www.procycling.com/news_main.asp?newsId=4923
http://www.velonews.com/news/fea/5556.0.html