it wasn't Ventoux- I don't knwo stage name - somebody out there does. Pantani and Lance dropped everyone else, and P kept surging- eventually Lance said "F$%# this' and didn't go with a surge; and Pantani went on to win the stage decisively to absolutely screaming French fans. That was the funnest part, they were just howling. (As a fringe benefit I think P was riding Campy)
He didn't start the next day reporting diarreah. Lucky thing smarter, more cautious people don't do stupid short-sighted things like drop Lance on a climb, cause they know to preserve their energy for the big important things.
Pantani went on a boomerang attack the next day (off the front for most of the race, then waaaay off the back for the rest) then was DNS the following day with diarrhea. Later on it was verbal diarrhea as the war of words with Armstrong began. See, Pantani's attack on stage 16 was the day of the infamous Armstrong bonk on the Joux-Plane, and that made Lance all grumpy and then the two of them got in a very prolonged and funny snit. That was also the day where Roberto Heras almost won but crashed into the barriers when he overcooked a turn near the finish... Ahh. Memories...
