B
Benjo Maso
Guest
I know of course that Pantani-bashing is among the favorite pass-time of this newsgroup, and I
wouldn't dream of robbing anyone of the pleasure to kick a man who is down. But in my opinion, he
deserves more to be pitied, than to be ridiculed. Of course from time to time he's behaving in a
strange way (to say the least), but on the other hand can you really blame him? Let's be fair, there
is probably no rider in the history of bicycle racing who has been so much humiliated, so much
hounded as Pantani. For example: last year when he was acquitted (because there wasn't any proof),
the UCI even insisted he should be convicted all the same. Would it have happened to any other
rider? I don't think so. It's obvious that Pantani has become the ideal scapegoat. I'm sure he must
have asked himself many times: why me? And why not Indurain, Rominger, Olano, Gotti, Bugno, Ullrich,
etc., etc. (and anyone who is believing they didn't use the same illegal substances as Pantani did
must be completely naive). How come that he is constantly target number one and that Armstrong could
get away with it when he presented a medical certificate only after cortocoides where detected in
hus urine? (and how would Armstrong have reacted if according to the rules he had been suspended?).
Of course, he is guilty, but it's hardly fait that he is seen as public enemy number one and many,
many other offenders are almost venerated. A new season is starting and Pantani is trying again to
make a comeback. I hope this time he will have more succes than before. Of course, there is no
chance he will ever win the Tour or the Giro again. But if he reaches Paris or Milan, it would be a
moral victory. And if he can show us once again a glimpse of the man who won Grenoble-Les Deux
Alpes, the most exciting and beautiful TdF stage in the last twenty years, I will be very happy.
Benjo Maso
wouldn't dream of robbing anyone of the pleasure to kick a man who is down. But in my opinion, he
deserves more to be pitied, than to be ridiculed. Of course from time to time he's behaving in a
strange way (to say the least), but on the other hand can you really blame him? Let's be fair, there
is probably no rider in the history of bicycle racing who has been so much humiliated, so much
hounded as Pantani. For example: last year when he was acquitted (because there wasn't any proof),
the UCI even insisted he should be convicted all the same. Would it have happened to any other
rider? I don't think so. It's obvious that Pantani has become the ideal scapegoat. I'm sure he must
have asked himself many times: why me? And why not Indurain, Rominger, Olano, Gotti, Bugno, Ullrich,
etc., etc. (and anyone who is believing they didn't use the same illegal substances as Pantani did
must be completely naive). How come that he is constantly target number one and that Armstrong could
get away with it when he presented a medical certificate only after cortocoides where detected in
hus urine? (and how would Armstrong have reacted if according to the rules he had been suspended?).
Of course, he is guilty, but it's hardly fait that he is seen as public enemy number one and many,
many other offenders are almost venerated. A new season is starting and Pantani is trying again to
make a comeback. I hope this time he will have more succes than before. Of course, there is no
chance he will ever win the Tour or the Giro again. But if he reaches Paris or Milan, it would be a
moral victory. And if he can show us once again a glimpse of the man who won Grenoble-Les Deux
Alpes, the most exciting and beautiful TdF stage in the last twenty years, I will be very happy.
Benjo Maso