When I first feasted my eyes on this photo over at lagazzettadellabici.com, it was the steely stare of Il Pirata that commanded my attention. That look says it all; “I’m suffering like a dog, the altitude is fucking with my mind, my lungs and my vision, but there’s rocket fuel coursing through my veins and I’m gonna grind these bastardos into powder as fine as the Colombian fare I’ll be sampling later.” Or maybe that’s just me…
It took me about five minutes to decipher the where, when and who of this photo. The jerseys threw me momentarily, before realising quickly that it was, of course, the Worlds. The rider second wheel had me too, especially as he is sporting the number 1 plate, usually reserved for the winner of the previous edition of the race. But no Colombian had won the title as far as I knew, so the only other explanation would be he was from the host country. Duitama. 1995. Ah yes. So who was a rider who could mix it with these guys, and carry the weight of expectation and hope that such a small country would bestow upon his slim shoulders? It could only be the somewhat evanescent Oliviero Rincon.
It all came flooding back.
At the time I was in a small Catalan village at the foot of the Pyrenees, staying with a friend of my travelling companion, and just happened to flick on the television and find the Eurosport coverage of the race. I think I’d read in the newspaper of Indurain’s win in the TT a few days before, so was aware the road race was coming up. Steve and I decided that copious amounts of Voll Damm were in order, and we settled in for the long haul. As did the protagonists. Seven hours plus at up to 3000 metres high? No problemo.
Pantani always exuded style on the bike. Check out the humungous Brikos perched on his sunburned, bald pate, the Spinaci bars, the semi-deep rim rear wheel. The white socks, turned grey from the road grime splashed up courtesy of a thunderstorm; he even managed to pull off garishly-patterned bar tape somehow.
There is so much more going on in this photo; Big Mig and Rincon either waiting to make a move or just waiting for Pirata’s cruelty to abate at the summit for another lap, the sweet steel forks, the caps, the hairnets. Pure Awesome all round.
What do you see?
I know as well as any of you that I've been checked out lately, kind…
Peter Sagan has undergone quite the transformation over the years; starting as a brash and…
The Women's road race has to be my favorite one-day road race after Paris-Roubaix and…
Holy fuckballs. I've never been this late ever on a VSP. I mean, I've missed…
This week we are currently in is the most boring week of the year. After…
I have memories of my life before Cycling, but as the years wear slowly on…
View Comments
Oops, I said Olano won the TT, of course it was Mig from Abe, reversed in the RR. I love how Mig celebrates taking the sprint for 2nd more enthusiastically than Abe did the win!
I don't think anyone could wear a cap as stylishly as Mig; the tilt, the puff on top of the head, the peak just barely allowing him to see out from under it (through neon yellow eyewear no less... Rudys?)
Is there also a Castelli logo on the right side of Pirata's jersey?
@Jarvis
you can never say Pantani was a COTHO - yes a hopeless blow addict and EPO ridden scoundrel. But such panache! Wash your mouth out Jarvis and apologise in prayer to il Pirata.
Brett - great photo and article. Can I confess a sad story about this year's World Champs? Was very fired up for them as soon as it was announced that they were going to be held here in Melbourne/Geelong. Was even more fired up when I realised that my brother-in-law's parents place sits about 30 metres off the circuit. Oh what fun this will be, I thought - watch them come by each lap and then retreat to the TV to keep track of things. Then I did something phenomonally stupid.
Without thinking I booked our family holiday to the same place (Queensland) on the same dates as last year - because the kids loved it. My wife approved of the idea and I booked. Then the devious missus (yes the one who inspired "Honey, can I go riding") casually asked, "isn't there some bike race you want to watch on during early October."
Oh
The
Horror
I have booked myself to be away whilst the World Champs are on. Can't change the holiday now - divorce would happen for sure.
So far I have been publicly ridiculed at a World Champs promotional lunch - where the very very courteous and polite Stephen Hodge (super-domestique to JaJa) told the crowd I was a pathetic loser and only had myself to blame.
I could only agree. So some other velominatus will have to give a firsthand report of the action.
@Marcus
Oh, Mate, that's a shocker. I feel for you. (However, seeing as your brother-in-law's parent's place won't be needing to accommodate you and your family, do you reckon they'd mind a few Velominati turning up instead ... ?)
That's a great picture and just oozes '90s era. An era that pushes all my bike culture buttons.
Man, I'd dig a pair of Brikos like that. Cool as hell.
Wow, what a photo. Pantani riding for the Azzura, he should have been the captain if the Italians were better organized. He looks like Olano has gone up the road and he can't catch him, he looks frustrated. The spinaci bars, so he could climb in a more aero position? Maybe this was before he adopted climbing in the drops? Regardless, someone should have set his bike up for him. That is a real Wally look. The Azzura in Assos jerseys, god only knows. I'd kill for one.
Indurain marking Pantani, unable to chase Olano, his countryman. I remember the buzz for this race, perhaps the only World Championships in South America? The climbing, the altitude, the Colombians; the Europeans were well out of their element. Indurain was the Fabooo of the day, winning the TT and should have won the road championship that year.
Rincon? Who was he? Was he the Colombian team leader with the #1 on his bike? I have no file on him but he looks good, stylin', staying with Pantani and Miguel.
To the Video
Olano was a surprise winner obviously but sweet jesus has anyone ridden that fast on a flat tire? He kept one hand on the bars as he went over the finish line, no doubt. He must have borrowed some rocket fuel from some of his Mapei teammates, whoa, what a powerhouse.
@Marcus
You poor bastard...
Lastly, I liked this bit in the race results:
"Friday, Miguel Indurain didn't like the look of the pasta the chef had
prepared. "You know what I really fancy?" he said. "A ham sandwich and a
beer." Indurain munched a couple of sandwiches and sank two beers. To those
who were astonished by this, so near race day, there was a learned response
from J Sabino Padilla, the Banesto team doctor. "Beer?" he said. "Why, it's
the only drink that contains vitamin B6 and B12, and what's more, it aids
the elimination of toxins."
Maybe Velominati Brother Josh, two bidons of New Castle, thank you very much, is on to something...
BTW, nice post, Brett. Am amazed that you guys spotted so much in this photo so effortlessly. I was (momentarily) proud of myself simply for recognising Big Mig. I have much to learn ...
@brett
I think you;ll find that Mig's glasses are Bolle, not Rudy. It was later he switched to Rudy.
@Marcus
It wasn't those character traits I had problems with in those days. It was the massive size of his ego and the whole "Il Pirata" branding thing. No class.
@Jarvis
Indeed, I think you're right. What happened to Bolle?
Pantani was NOT a COTHO. He was a fucking stud. The Ego, the branding...wouldn't you brand for something else if your current nickname was "Elephantino"?
Ego, yes, but so frail. His career is dotted with great highs and great lows. I love it. I love him eternally.
@Dan O
The Briko Zens. Those were the shit. One iteration cooler than the Shots, and much cooler than the model after that...though I can't recall the name...
Briko Stinger
I quite liked them, although agree the Zens look great. They were impossible to get in the UK
Bolle are still around although I think mainly into skiing, although their website lists mountain biking glasses. Actually. just realised I have a pair of Bolle that I found on a trail in the bottom of my toolbox.
@frank
We'll call it the Pantani Conflict
Wow, great photo and what a great age for cycling.
I am with Frank and Marcus on this. Agree with his off the bike life or not, doping or not, he didn't care one way or the other. He was the quintessential Italian, unapologetic, full of piss and vinegar and he was directly taken from his grave to Gaul's right-hand side in heaven, because Pantani was our living and breathing Gaul in the flesh. I for one loved him.
In terms of Big Mig, he was a freaking diesel. I see him as I have seen him so many times, hands on the top of the bars, in a slow cadence yet in tempo that few could hold.....and he was hardly breathing, and in the pic he looks to me to be looking up the road like he owns it.
The style, all classic. I love the cycling cap, and still wear mine in the fall but the wife and friends badger me about it...but it is utterly cycling and Big Mig always wore it w/style. The Bolle glass, timeless. Big phat Look pedals, new STi campy record aluminum 8spd grouppo's, wow! It changed cycling forever.
There are so many things in that photo that i ended up buying....man...great photo!!