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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Looking for that shot of Ulli with the brewski I came across this. Ulli shoved Jiménez into the pain cave, took his flashlight from him, and then cracked it in two. The only way he's getting out of there is crawling on his hands and knees and feeling his way.
And more Ulli/Marco awesomeness. Great photo.
Read this a while back and it stuck in my mind
Ullrich's body was unlike any other rider's I'd ever seen. I'd sometimes try to ride next to him just so I could watch: you could actually see the muscle fibers moving. He was the only rider I've ever seen whose veins were visible under the Lycra.
Coyle, Daniel; Hamilton, Tyler (2012-09-19). The Secret Race (Kindle Locations 1967-1969). Bantam Press. Kindle Edition.
@frank
Brilliant!
Thread of year so far for me. What's not to love - masterclass across the board, and some of the best archive pics yet . Chapeau to the keepers. Trihards, upstarts and those who need to relax : know when to shut the fuck up, watch and learn. I ride with an 'ironman' - discussed this topic today, he agreed wholeheartedly that tri and cycling kit / aesthetics are distinct and never the twain should mix. Class act this guy. And fucking strong rider.
@Nate
I think he just dropped one....the gasp for fresh air behind says it all...forgive the purile humour but there is a little benny hill in all of us!
Dario Pegoretti's homage to the Pirate: Cocaine Can't Kill My Pain
@frank
He is one of us!
@Chris
Cannons? Oh... yes. I keep getting distracted by the awful condominium on his head.
@frank
@Gianni
there is a vignette in that Dan Coyle book about Cotho's '05 season. Cotho is talking about bumping into Der Kaiser somewhere - after Armstrong has beaten him hands down. Ully comes over and gives him a hug. The thing that reveals character is not so much Ulle's niceness once the contest is done, but Armstrong afterward expressing incredulity that his rival would hug him.
One is one of us. And What a COTHO the other guy is!
Think I would rather share some pilsners and horse stew with Ulle and Vino (yes, pony is Vino's favorite - cant believe he never blamed the dope on hopped up horse meat) than bud and burgers with Armstrong and Hamilton.