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.
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
@TBONE
OH my eyes!! The burn,the burn. Time to retreat to 2003 TDF and watch Ullrich in MY opinion crush COTHO!
http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=relmfu&v=N-pZn5wwr9A
@Russ
We were at that time trial. Total Awesomeness. Like, insanely. Got to sit on Ulli's bike (its amazing what you can get on a hot day when you give the security guard a sandwich and soda), then watched him crush COTHO!
We were watching at the base of a climb and most riders were out of the saddle already:
But our boy Ulli was still in the fucking aero bars.
@frank still possibly the best tour ever. Since LeMond/Fignon anyway. That TT (the warm up in the aircon - how pissed off would COTHO have been that he didnt think of that?), Vino's attacks and stage win, COTHO in the fields, Mayo dishing it out, Hamilton's stage win, Armstrong's stage win (did Ulle wait before he was told? Yes). Had it all. A veritable cornucopia of doped up cheats, but fuck it had some spark (remember the sparks off Ulle's bike in the last tt when he binned it?).
I watch that DVD more than any other race. A brother of mine - who knows nothing of cycling, but is a racehorse vet (was a steward too) so has more than a passing knowledge of EPO - watched that race and couldnt believe how big all the riders were - looking back they look so very different (except for the Basques) from today's GC guys...
Sorry folks, but the use of the word "retard" or any variation of the word "tard" that is meant to in anyway demean another person is wrong - period. Of course you have a right to use that word even though you are aware of its offensive nature and I fully support that right, but it does not make it ok and it means you are an asshole... but being an asshole isn't illegal.
As the father of a child with down syndrome I believe I am in a position to speak on this.
My son is a wonderful little human being who's capacity for love is immeasurable. He is an incredibly blessing on my life and the lives of those who know him. It may be hard to understand this, but I believe his down syndrome is actually an incredible gift. We talk about Rule V in relation to cycling, he has already shown more Rule V in his short existence than most of us ever will.
Sad to say as he gets older he will only have to show more of it as his disability begins to separate him more and more from his peers in life. He will most likely be the recipient of ridicule and bullying as kids his age begin to truly sense his difference from them...and I guarantee you that the most common hurt will some how be tied to the use of the word retard. Most of this will come from those who were not taught by their parents to understand how their words can hurt even when not specifically meant to.
I understand completely the technical meaning of the word retard, however, to claim that using it to describe some one else in a demeaning way was tied to that definition is a poor excuse at best, and condescending at worst.
I realize that this word has become commonplace in our culture and that it is tough to change mindsets. When friends and acquaintances use it I don't get angry (When I was a kid I used it as well...) I simply explain its hurtful nature to those with disabilities and move on, no apology is ever required or requested. Most of them refrain from using the word (at least in front of me) and those that know my son often become similarly repulsed by its continued use.
You learn quickly to discern who is simply ignorant about the stigma and those who are truly assholes.
Better to determine for yourself which camp you want to be associated with... and perhaps your children as well.
This is (probably) the last time I'll write about this subject here, I apologize for moving the direction so far away from cycling, but felt compelled to speak my mind - as most faithful Velominati are wont to do.
For anyone interested, take a look at http://www.r-word.org/ for a little more enlightenment... who knows, you may be compelled to take the pledge against its use yourself.
@frank
Now that is some cool hand luke action there. A soda and sandwich . The reward was well worth it and your spot on the road was perfect. I can almost feel the power they were dishing out. Chapeau!
Sorry, the grungehead in me is reborn at some point every year. Layne, at his best.
@LA Dave
I have the privilege to know a number of people who face similar challenges; some of them are people who like you have children with disabilities of some kind or another who will struggle their entire lives. Others are friends from childhood who themselves face these problems.
It seems to me that people who face real challenges in life and not the usual perceived ones are by and large the most generous and kind people I know. The less you have, the more it seems you are willing to give.
"Fag", "retard" and other derogatory variations offend me to the bones.
That said, "Cunt" and "Gotard", inexplicably, make me giggle like a child. Sorry I'm not a better person.
@Marcus
Plus one badge to you. Excellent.
@frank
Staley sure could belt it out, couldn't he! My other great love, besides cycling, is music. I play guitar in cover bands with other geezers my age (I'm 56), and I've been writing for various music magazines since 1988. Back in the day, I had the privilige of interviewing Jerry Cantrell. Of the hundreds of interviews I've done with some of the biggest names in music, that interview sticks with me. Cantrell had no attitude or ego whatsoever. He didn't consider himself a "rock star," but just a guy who loves playing guitar. Truly a cool dude.
@Gianni
Thanks, I always knew I could be an inspiration to someone. You must follow me on Strava. Unless of course you're talking about Ullrich.
@frank
Ulle.
Ulle. you got it right once.
@frank
Ulle.
Get it right. It's Ulle. Not Ulli, Ully, or Ullr.
Sincerely, Ule.