Originally posted by gntlmn
Wow! I have indeed been away from the news, and this is indeed shocking news. Does anyone have any more information on this which would show cause of death?
I am afraid to speculate on this out of respect for one of the greatest climbers ever. But it kind of makes you wonder. He followed shortly after Jose Maria Jimenez, another climbing great. Both of these riders had at least some history of prohibited drug use.
I'll never forget the heroics of this man in the mountains.
Speculation is rife at the moment.
But here are the facts : Marco had booked in a hotel in Rimini last week.
According to reports, the staff at the hotel have said that he spent his entire week at the hotel, staying in his room.
According to staff, he only went out of his room to eat his meals
in the dining area of the hotel.
Whe he didn't appear for a meal, the staff became suspicious and they went to his room to see if everything was all right.
The knocked at his door but there was no answer.
They eventually broke in to the room and found him lying in his bed.
He had died some hours previously, according to pathology reports being quoted in the Italian media.
there were some handwritten notes beside his bed and they found some tablets believed to be anti-depressants according to media reprots.
I have just heard on the radio that they now suspect that he died
of heartfailure but they're awaiting an autopsy report to confirm this.
It is very, very sad news - despite whatever allegations were made against him towrad the end of his career.
