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Product Description
Product Description
On 14 February 2004 Marco Pantani was found dead in a hotel room in Rimini. The 34-year-old climbing specialist, nicknamed 'The Pirate', was a Tour de France and Giro d'Italia champion, but his career was blighted by doping allegations after he was thrown out of the 1999 Giro d'Italia for failing a blood test. In the last months of his life he kept extensive notes for a book that would have told his story. Pantani was the first Italian to win the Tour de France, cycling's premier race, since Felice Gimondi in 1965. He was the last man to win the Tour before Lance Armstrong embarked on a record-equalling five straight victories. But Pantani's 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. 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 later acquitted of sporting fraud in October 2003. Thanks to her close rapport with Pantini's family, Manuela Ronchi has been able to tie together the loose ends of his story to loyally reconstruct the life of the champion. From his childhood discovery of cycling to the triumphs, losses and scandal that accompanied one of the few sporting personalities capable inspiring in his fans a passion for cycling, here, for the first time, is the full, intimate, authentic and personal story of Pantani's remarkable career.
About the Author
Manuela Ronchi was Pantani's manager, friend and confidente for five years. Gianfranco Josti is a sports journalist on Italy's 'Corriere della Sera'
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Understanding Marco Pantani's complicated but fascinating personality isn't an easy task. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
Understanding Marco Pantani's complicated but fascinating personality isn't an easy task. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
25 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Where one can read Lance Armstrong's vivid and heroic account of his battle against cancer to win his life, future, and thus the Tour de France, this equally rivetting story takes the cycling fan to even darker places. Marco Pantani was a true legend of the peleton, like Armstrong, transcending sport itself to reach out to the ordinary man on the street who might not be aware of cycling other than three weeks in July. Whereas his demise was greeted with sangfroid amongst the peleton and the press, to the legions of cycling fans around the world, it was a truly black day, as one of the most gifted cyclists of his, or any other generation was found dead of a drug overdose. Now, I buy every a lot of cyling titles, but what enthused me about this one, was that it wasn't written by some journalist with an 'angle', or an axe to grind, or even a publishing contract to honour - how many of those to we get every year? This, on the other hand, is a very personal account by Pantani's closest friend and adviser, who after talking it over with Pantani's parents, decided to produce this warts and all story. You don't get any better than that, and it really does read as if Manuela Ronchi lived this horrific ordeal day by day with the great man - only unlike Armstrong, he was figting a losing battle.
A shame they had such a public falling out, I think they might have been friends away from cycling if the press hadn't fuelled the rivalry. Who knows? But read the book, now it's been translated from the Italian best-seller, it's well worth it.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
A tragic story told from the person that probably knew him best. Heartfelt and honest, in places it is predicatably sad but you can't help but read on... the only thing that never gets answered is "why?" - but then maybe there is no answer to this...
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
As someone who has unsuccessfully tried to pull back a work colleague from alcoholism and its fatal consequences, I have great sympathy with Manuela Ronchi and her harrowing tale. However, from a cycling perspective it makes sad reading. All the '90's pro's were using EPO and Pantani was unlucky enough (like the Festina team) to get caught. His lack of contrition led the authorities to hound him, and his profligate use of cocaine to blot out the truth could only end one way. If you want to read about Marco Pantani, the biography by John Wilcockson (published by Velo News) makes a much better choice.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Prompt service
This item arrived to me extremely quickly - many thanks. It was as described and in good condition. Very happy with the service provided.
Published on 16 Mar 2009 by Mrs. Fiona Marsh
Pantani's stock rises
As a fan of professional cycling, I like many have enjoyed the highs and the often inevitable disappointments of many "successes" in the last few years. Read more
Published on 7 Jan 2009 by Paul Armatage
The never ending slide
The first part of the book I wanted to read and read and read.
The rest of the book concentrated on his depression and other than the odd sentance or two did not mention... Read more
The rest of the book concentrated on his depression and other than the odd sentance or two did not mention... Read more
Published on 3 Feb 2007 by S. Eccles
worth a read
Pantani was my cycling idol. Simple as that! I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book and gain an insight into this man. Read more
Published on 11 Sep 2006 by Sam Ramos
Disappointed
As a cycling fan, I found parts of this books interesting, but other parts frustrating. The author was obviously close to Pantani, and wrote engagingly with passion and verve... Read more
Published on 15 April 2006 by J. Wagstaff
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