Pantani found dead

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Pantani found dead


Pantani's troubled ride
Pantani's career in pictures
Italian cycling star Marco Pantani has been found dead in a hotel in Rimini.
The 34-year-old climbing specialist, nicknamed "The Pirate", won the 1998 Tour de France and Giro d'Italia.

But his career was blighted by doping allegations after he was thrown out of the 1999 Giro d'Italia for failing a blood test.

"I'm devastated, it's a tragedy of enormous proportions for the entire cycling world," said fellow cyclist Mario Cipollini.

Pantani's body was found by a member of the hotel staff on Saturday evening.

Investigators ordered an autopsy on Monday to determine the cause of death but violence was immediately ruled out.

Magistrate Paolo Gengarelli said there were no illegal drugs in the room but 10 packages of prescription sedatives were found at the scene, some empty and some started.

He withdrew into himself. He was alone

Italian cyclist Felice Gimondi

The coach of the Italian national cycling team Franco Ballerini said: "It's something that is so huge, it doesn't seem true."

Pantani, who spent the last few years fighting for his reputation, last raced in the 2003 Giro, finishing 14th.

But soon after he entered a health clinic specialising in the treatment of depression and drug addiction.

Pantani was the first Italian to win the Tour de France, cycling's premier race, since Felice Gimondi in 1965.

Whatever you feel about his recent problems he was a great character of the sport and the end seems so sad for a great rider

From Neil Yardley
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Gimondi, who coached Pantani for two years, told Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport: "I am shocked and traumatised.

"Marco has paid a very dear price for everything. For years he was in the eye of the cycling storm after being world number one.

"He then withdrew into himself. He was alone."

Gengarelli said that Pantani, who had been treated at a clinic recently for depression, had written "some thoughts" on hotel stationery but it was not a farewell note.

Cycling mourns Pantani
Spain's five-time Tour winner, Miguel Indurain, called Pantani a "tragic genius".

Pantani was the last man to win the Tour before American Lance Armstrong embarked on a record-equalling five straight victories.

But his career went into free-fall when he was ejected from the 1999 Giro while in the lead after failing a test for haematocrit - an indicator, though not proof, of the use of performance-enhancing drugs.

MARCO PANTANI FACT FILE
1970: Born on 13 Jan in Cesena, Italy
1992: Makes professional debut
1995: Bronze in World Championships
1998: Won Giro d'Italia and Tour de France
1999: Thrown out of Giro for failing blood test
2001: Syringe of insulin found in Pantani's room during Giro
2002: Banned for eight months but wins appeal
2003: Spends year battling for reputation in court. June - books into clinic for depression and drug use. October - acquitted of sporting fraud

Scandal followed Pantani, and during the 2001 Giro a syringe containing traces of insulin was found in his hotel room in a police raid.

Pantani insisted the syringe had been planted and that he did not stay in the room on the night in question.

A court dismissed his claim for lack of proof, and he was suspended for six months but he was acquitted of sporting fraud in October last year.

Pantani's team Mercatone Uno were not invited to take part in the centenary Tour de France last year.

Pantani, who was also third in the Tour in 1994 and 1997, began his career with the Carrera team.


from: BBC

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RIMINI, Italy (AP) -- Marco Pantani, the former Tour de France and Giro d'Italia winner who has been plagued by doping accusations and suspensions in recent years, was found dead Saturday, Italian news reports said.

The 34-year-old Pantani, Italy's most popular cyclist, was found in a room at the hotel "Le Rose" in this seaside city, the ANSA news agency reported.

Prosecutor Paolo Gengarelli told reporters that different types of medicine were found in the room, including tranquilizers.

No cause of death was given, although news reports said it didn't appear that there had been any violence. An autopsy is scheduled for Monday.

There was no answer at Pantani's Mercatone Uno team or his management agency Saturday. A man who answered his manager's phone said the reports of Pantani's death were true, and that the cause of death wasn't yet known.

"I'm devastated, it's a tragedy of enormous proportions for the entire cycling world," former world champion cyclist Mario Cipollini told ANSA. "I'm at a loss for words."

Also Saturday, 21-year-old Belgian cyclist Johan Sermon was found dead from apparent heart failure, according to Belgian news reports. He was an under-23 rider with the Daikin team.

In 1998, Pantani became the last cyclist to win both the Tour de France and the Giro in the same season. Since then, he has been accused of doping several times. He has denied those accusations.

He finished 14th in last year's Giro, one of his best performances since 1998. He had not announced any plans for this season, sparking speculation that he was retiring.

"It's still difficult to believe, I don't know what his health conditions were," former teammate, and 2000 Giro winner, Stefano Garzelli told ANSA. "Certainly he had to deal with a lot of pressure, even from outside cycling. The pressure he was put under would have been tough for anyone to handle."

Last summer, Pantani spent several weeks in a health clinic specializing in treatment for depression and drug addiction.

In 1999, he failed a random blood test and was kicked out of the Giro, which he was winning.

A syringe containing traces of insulin was found in his hotel room in a police raid during the 2001 Giro. Pantani contended the syringe had been planted and that he didn't stay in the room on the night in question. The judges dismissed the claim for lack of proof, and he was suspended for six months.

In his prime, Pantani drew hoards of loyal fans to watch him sprint away from competitors while racing up steep mountain passes.

After shedding the nickname of "Elefantino" -- little elephant _ for his big ears and small frame, Pantani became better known as cycling's "Pirate" for the bandanna covering his head and the earring he wore.

After turning professional in 1992, Pantani won eight Tour de France stages and eight Giro stages. He wore the yellow jersey as Tour leader in six stages and donned the Giro's pink jersey 14 times.

He registered 36 victories overall, the first coming in a 1994 Giro stage and the last in the 2000 Tour, when he rode wheel-to-wheel with Lance Armstrong.

from: sport illustrated