Just finished reading the enclosed CyclingNews item. The voices and
microphones and video cams sound very much like the delusions associated
with schizophrenia. If so, further evidence of a terrible tragedy larger
than he could have possibly handled:
Pantani's ex-manager publishes book in Italy
Eight months after the tragic death of Marco Pantani in a hotel room in
Rimini, Manula Ronchi, Pantanis ex-manager, has published an Italian book
entitled A man on the run: The true story of Marco Pantani in
collaboration with Gianfranco Josti, a sports journalist. In 260 pages,
using the notes the cycling legend wrote during the last few months of his
life, Ronchi recalls the Pirate's last years, beginning with the doping
investigations after the Madonna di Campiglio searches on the Giro 1999
until the drug addiction that led to his death on February 14, 2004.
"Pantani thought that he was the victim of a conspiracy headed by the
president of the Italian Cycling Federation, Giancarlo Ceruti", Ronchi
wrote. "Marco was afraid at night. He thought he was spied on with
microphones. He searched for video cameras in the whole house and heard
voices on the roof. His obsessions were the anti-doping investigations and
his girlfriend." Ronchi also relates the difficult partnership between
Pantani and his former girlfriend Christina Jonsson.
A part of the expected sales income will benefit the Marco Pantani
foundation involved in fundraising projects. The film production company
Colorado has already bought the rights to the book.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2004/oct04/oct21news2