D
Davide Tosi
Guest
About one hour ago Marco Pantani was found dead in a bedroom of a residence in Rimini. The cause of
his death is not known, yet.
his death is not known, yet.
Originally posted by B. Lafferty
"benjo maso"
Amen. May he find peace. Gimondi's words are sadly appropriate:
Gimondi told Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport: "I am shocked and traumatised.
"Marco has paid a very dear price for everything. For years he was in the eye of the cycling after
being world number one.
"He then withdrew into himself. He was alone."
Originally posted by pedalchick
I've been thinking lately, since I heard reports of Pantani's depression and alleged weight gain, how much I would like to tell him how I admired his style. Few riders had the kind of panache that he did, and I'm sorry, but it wasn't all drugs. You don't make a rider like that out of nothing with a bunch of EPO. I wanted to tell him how I take back all the things I said to people about how he was just a dirty doper and his victories meant nothing. I wanted to tell him I finally got a chance to watch the 1998 Giro and Tour and he was awesome.
I wanted him to come back and add some style to the grand tours. Everyone rides so conservatively and predictably it seems. Mayo was a small light in the darkness, but nothing like Pantani, who would (like in 2000?) seem to be about to get dropped, claw his way back to the group and then attack again and again with such ferocity until he got away to win (remember Ventoux?). Finally, in last year's Giro d'Italia, his ride on that one steep ass stage where he paced Garzelli up the most brutal part of the climb was sheer brilliance. They guy had been through the wringer, constantly hounded, under incessant litigation, but he managed enough class to pull out one big ride.
Pantani was a brilliant champion, and a spectacular competitor who didn't deserve half of the **** he got. He was used as an example while probably not being any dirtier than any of his competitors - he was left to hang out to dry while others who were caught red-handed were given raps on the hands and set free to race again (Casagrande? Zulle?). Had he just said "sure, I took some EPO. I won't do it again" he would have been fine. Who knows, maybe he was really innocent and clean? They never did prove anything except a high hematocrit. ****, I have a naturally high hematocrit, but I still suck.
I wish I could have told the guy all this. I wish someone could have given him his pride back. For all the entertainment the man provided to cycling fans, he could at least have been treated with some respect by the sporting authorities and journalists - and all you bastards on r.b.r, too. Instead, he died alone and embittered to the sport.
R.I.P. Mr. Pantani...
Originally posted by Kurgan Gringion
"BJC" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news[email protected]...
>
> > Who knows, maybe he was really innocent and clean? They never did prove anything except a high
> > hematocrit. ****,
Don't kid yourself.
When he was in that crash w/ the car that broke his femur, his hct fluctuated wildly while he was in
the hospital. IIRC, it went down to 16%, then doctors had to inject him with EPO to get it back up.
What is that a sign of? EPO dependency.
The body has its own natural checks and balances - when people cycle a drug for too long, the body
shuts down the natural production of whatever it is the drug mimics (bodybuilders (shriveled
testicles) and testosterone) (heroin users and naturally occuring opiates).
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