Categories: In MemoriamKermisLook ProNostalgiaReverent

In Memoriam: Il Pirata, Ten Years Gone

r-EPO man

I don’t know if it’s because I see something of myself in them or if it awakens some kind of nurturing instinct, but I always seem to find myself drawn to tragically flawed figures.

Layne Staley and Marco Pantani strike me as two halves of the same whole; incredibly talented yet tortured with mortally addictive personalities, both set loose into a world of over-indulgence. Everyone – including themselves – saw the writing on the wall in the months or even years leading up to their deaths, but everyone seemed helpless to stop the inevitable: a lonely death. To hear Staley sing is to watch Pantani climb; beauty is to witness an artist pouring their anguish into their trade.

I’ve been watching the 1998 Tour and Giro during my morning turbo sessions, and even with the lens through which we now view those rides, his talent was undeniable, but so was his fragile psyche. You can almost taste his self-doubt even as he flies up the mountains like a soaring eagle.

Today, St. Valentines Day, marks the tenth anniversary of Marco’s death, and with that we dive into the archives for a Kermis on Brett’s look at our fallen hero. See also a previous year’s Valentines Day Memorial.

May you go with Merckx, Marco.

frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

Next Post-Ride Recovery Ales »

Previous « Climbing Tips for the Non-Climber

View Comments

Angling Saxon says:

Feb 17 2014 at 11:44 am

Ooops, quote malfunction. Didn't mean to quote the two paragraphs starting with "panache."
ped says:

Feb 17 2014 at 12:47 pm

Pure ...
frank says:

Feb 17 2014 at 12:56 pm

@Wondering

(to several of the posters here) If you want to glorify a troubled soul with a tragic fall from grace, then go right ahead, I'll back you on that. But if you're going to celebrate his drugged up cycling achievements and say they inspired you back then (and now) then don't be placing Marco on a pedestal and Lance in the gutter. Again, I'm no fan of Lance, but his achievements dominated cycling for many years, even dominated Marco when Marco was at his peak.

The difference you're overlooking is that Pantani seemed to me personally a likeable character, like someone I could have a beer with under the right circumstances. Lance just seemed like a dick. Its as simple as that; its not fair or objective, its just the nature of being a fan.

Also, at the time, the races Pantani made happen were simply exciting to watch, while Armstrong's felt like foregone conclusions; how much fun you have watching the races at the time has a lasting impact on how you feel about the athletes after the fact.
Angling Saxon says:

Feb 17 2014 at 1:17 pm

Pantani's Bianchi Mega Pro XL that Pantani is totally awesome. I want to get one some day. I will get one some day. I'm a soldier in the celeste army.
Ron says:

Feb 17 2014 at 1:37 pm

I have a Bianchi but it's goddamn silver. Fuck. Oh well, I could put some Celeste tape on the bars.

Pedale - we'll have to take your word for it! (great photo, of course!)

If you think not knowing who Layne Staley was, the VMH asked me a few weeks ago who Richard Pryor was. I told her I wouldn't divorce her, but that I would never get over being angry about that question.
frank says:

Feb 17 2014 at 1:39 pm

@Marcus

Panache is in the eye of the beholder. The panachyest (look it up) thing I have ever seen in a race was Landis' comeback stage win in 06. That doesn't seem to get mentioned too often these days - interestingly, O'Grady was in the break that day and Landis passed him like he was on a motorbike and Ole Stuey expressed immediate incredulity at the performance. Turns out he would know.

So to all those saying what Marco was or wasn't, you are all correct. They are your opinions.

I think it doesn't get mentioned so much because the bitter taste came in too quickly after the feat to allow it to pass into true nostalgia.

But we watched it live on French television, after missing the previous day; we were confused and lost as to why he would be so far behind. Amazingly fun day. The ITT a few days later as well.

Anyway, I for one still have the L'Equipe front page hanging in my workshop.

@Pedale.Forchetta

MP in pink jersey - Giro d'Italia 1998

That might be the most abstractly beautiful shot you've ever posted!
Angling Saxon says:

Feb 17 2014 at 1:41 pm

Was he another rider? I've never heard the name. Don't make me google names I don't know.
marcus says:

Feb 17 2014 at 2:10 pm

@frank I remember talking to my brother (who doesn't follow cycling but is a doctor) about Landis, describing that effort and finishing with, "and you know what, he did it all on a hip bone that is dying which he is getting replaced straight after the Tour".

His response, "A young professional athlete with necrosis of the hip? Am guessing he has been taking shit he shouldn't have been. Bet he is a doper."
Barracuda says:

Feb 17 2014 at 3:01 pm

@Pedale.Forchetta

MP in pink jersey - Giro d'Italia 1998

That, right there, is an awesome shot. Pictures are supposed to tell stories, this one speaks volumes.

Excellent
Ccos says:

Feb 17 2014 at 5:00 pm

@frank

@Wondering

(to several of the posters here) If you want to glorify a troubled soul with a tragic fall from grace, then go right ahead, I'll back you on that. But if you're going to celebrate his drugged up cycling achievements and say they inspired you back then (and now) then don't be placing Marco on a pedestal and Lance in the gutter. Again, I'm no fan of Lance, but his achievements dominated cycling for many years, even dominated Marco when Marco was at his peak.

The difference you're overlooking is that Pantani seemed to me personally a likeable character, like someone I could have a beer with under the right circumstances. Lance just seemed like a dick. Its as simple as that; its not fair or objective, its just the nature of being a fan.

Also, at the time, the races Pantani made happen were simply exciting to watch, while Armstrong's felt like foregone conclusions; how much fun you have watching the races at the time has a lasting impact on how you feel about the athletes after the fact.

I agree completely. An unspoken aspect too is the fact he died, as this leads to the forgiveness of many sins.

Unless you're a douche. Ricco could have succeeded in offing himself with his dumbass blood transfusion but we still would think he is a prick, fantastic climber or not.