We continue our Six Days of the Giro series with a look at the troubled bond between Marco Pantani and the Giro.
Some were meant to be tormented, as though it were preordained that their brilliance should be balanced with fatal flaws. These are tortured souls, whose dramatic highs are equalled only by the devastating depths of their lows.
Cycling drinks its fill of these personalities, and climbing seems to attract more than its fair share. Shakespeare himself couldn’t divine a better premise; the discipline most focussed on suffering in a sport totally focussed on suffering will always attract the most enigmatic of sorts. Charley Gaul, José MarÃa Jiménez, Marco Pantani; the list goes on.
Italy’s geography seems to lend itself to climbing and therefor suffering. There are mountains from north to south, and it being a narrow stip of a country, there is no occasion to avoid them for very long before any parcourse is once again forced to go over them. Already Monday’s Stage 3 of this year’s race is a lumpy thing with two categorized climbs and Stage 4 has an uphill finish. This will be a race for those able to suffer.
Pantani in particular seemed inextricably bound to the Giro. Even before winning in 1998, he found himself winning some of the hardest mountain stages, though his temperament dictated that for every great day on the bike, he would be pay at least V bad ones. In 1999, he looked to be the sure winner before registerring a hematocrit over the UCI 50% limit at Madonna di Campiglio. In 2000, he returned once again, but was far from his best and rode in support of his teammate and eventual winner, Stefano Garzelli.
He struggled on for a few more years, but always tried to shine in Italy. In 2003, in a heart-wrenching display of defiance, he gave the last of himself in vain before disappearing from the sport for good.
It reminds me of a song written by a man who’s life was similarly tormented, Layne Staley. Perhaps Layne and Pantani were two parts of the same whole.
My pain is self-chosen
At least, so the prophet says
– Layne Stayey, River of Deceit
Maybe Layne could have been a Cyclist in another life.
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Enjoy this clip, with it's great tribute song to Marco by French band Les Wampas, who were clearly fans. Not sure why watching and listening to this gets me all emotional. Rule #5 Mike, Rule #5 !!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wx5Zer4XJkg&feature=fvst
@Deakus
Then make sure that it is made of quality latex!
I think this really reflects the way you view the word, it says more about the reader than the writer...if you want to get technical.
re·tard 1 (r
v. re·tard·ed, re·tard·ing, re·tards
v.tr.
To cause to move or proceed slowly; delay or impede.
v.intr.
To be delayed.
n.
1. A slowing down or hindering of progress; a delay.
2. Music A slackening of tempo.
[Middle English retarden, from Old French retarder, from Latin retard
re·tard
Personally, and I cannot speak for others I would regard all triathletes as falling in to this category because they are slow to see the light and follow the V.
I also understand the slang context of this, but I choose not to regard it in this way because that would be cruel and insensitive.
I get a bit fed up with everybody choosing to get "offended" by everything these days, it is like the word has been highjacked by an over politically correct and rather zealous set of people that feel they own the rights to be offended by everything in life that does not quite meet their own personal expectations on behaviour. I include in this category religious fundamentalists (of all pesuasions), those who are overly politically correct and numerous others.
The slur sits within your mind, not necessarily those who posted it.
If you truly believe that the poster was a homophobe, or trying to joke at mentally retarded people, then you probably have the right to be offended....but everyone else does not have to get "onboard" with your offence....we choose to see what we choose to see...
I choose to believe that the poster was using common modern slang to indicate the slowness of mind of those who choose to swim and run when riding, rather than following the pure path.....(tongue in cheek), that is what this site is all about.
Any statement is only ever offensive to the person who perceives it to be so....I think a little perspective is required here. Obviously if someone posted that they thought all mentally slow people should be shot, that is not open to much interpretation and I would find their view offensive...but some may not and I approve of their right to think this way. Privately I would think them a small minded biggot....publicly I would probably just ignore them and not give the attention or publicity for their hateful rhetoric that they are so obviously seeking. That would be to fan the flames of intolerance.
I have rambled enough....this hits the nail on the head....
@Deakus hey fuckwit-it was me who raised the "offensive" regarding the use of 'tard, and it was only in conversation with @ChrisO. The other guy had a problem with the use of "fag".
I am stupider for having read your post.
@anthony sands
Cycling is riddled with champions and idiots. Focus on the champions and ignore the idiots. Deakus doesn't completely understand cycling either. Or when to hold off.
Henceforth I shall no longer call Triathletes 'tryfags'. For my punishment for speaking ill of Triathletes I will be wearing Campagnolo compression socks and LED lit compression arm warmers in every race I ride in.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=72768
http://www.gearbuzz.com/deal/36282/50-percent-off-glimmer-gear-unisex-led-compression-arm-sleeves/national
@Marcus
The point was a generic one...your failure to grasp that already makes you stupid enough please don't get any worse on my account. The point stands and I have nothing further to add.
@ChrisO
I think its very easy to look at addicts and dopers and say they're weak and they should be cast aside, and that's a perfectly valid position to take.
For me, living with a woman who's spent here life working in Public Health and Epidemiology, I've come to appreciate how much environmental factors have to do with these things and truly how far from being a matter of black and white, right and wrong these things usually are.
For Pantani, he was a great rider and exciting to watch and that's a big part of the equation. But he was also part of the 90's culture where doping was widespread and completely pushed under the carpet - aside from Festina, no one was talking about it and no one had been caught.
What breaks my heart - and what I believe broke Pantani's heart - was that he was singled out at a time when virtually everyone was doing the same thing. I look back and see a man who was confused and betrayed by his world, and he tried for 5 years to fight his way back - the sport turned its back on him, but he never turned his back on it.
That puts him in a different light than Vino, Valvecap, Contador, etc.
I do appreciate you holding the line on that entire era, though I'm surprised to see you open the door on Sastre, a ride who was only successful under Riis's tutelage and who had strong (alleged) ties to Fuentes.
@Ron
I had a similar introduction, except it was with We Die Young from Facelift. That opening riff is so badass, and I was like - wait, these guys are 19?
Nipple lube... it was intended in an offensive but ironic sense, by using it as a replacement for the word tryfags. As in "There are only two things I can't stand in this world: people who are intolerant of other people's cultures, and the Dutch."
Or my personal favourite example - I can't remember where it was from - but there's a Peter Jackson remake of the classic film Dambusters, with script by Stephen Fry. In the original (and factual) version Commander Guy Gibson's dog is called Nigger so obviously it had to be renamed (Digger). There was a very funny satire in Onion style which had the dog renamed Cuntface to avoid causing offence. And you have to imagine Stephen Fry calling a black labrador cuntface to really appreciate it.
Anyhow... sorry I mentioned it really.