Pantani on Pampeago
This photo was taken on Alpe di Pampeago during Stage 14 of the 2003 Giro. Pantani had tried to attack Simoni (the maglia rosa), Garzelli and handful of other riders at the foot of the climb. The lead riders pulled Pantani back and soon after Simoni launched a solo attack that split the group and took him out on his own at the front. Garzelli, Cuapio and Rumsas mananged to limits their losses but Pantani couldn't hold the pace and had lost two minutes by the top of the climb. It was Pantani's last ever attack in the Giro and it had come to nothing.
By the time he reached us at the top Pantani looked like he had aged ten years and was a pale imitation of his 'Pirate' ego. It's a sad shot to see his state in comparison to the joyful enthusiasm of the fans. This was one of two times I saw Pantani racing. Both times he was far from his best but the tifosi always reserved their loudest cheers for him. Since his death, it is probably easy to read too much into the events of his last few years racing but he really seemed to have lost the heart to compete by this point.
It must have been incredible to have watched Pantani at his best.
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