Nobody else could bridge a gap like this

[tubularglue]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-J2bIsPDH8

 

[dolophonic]

Nice, didn't look like anyone was waiting for him! He was a great rider.
Thanks for sharing this video.

 

[Ryaguas]

Ahhh Il Pirata... what a memories...

 

[krebs303]

Thanks............................................................................................................................

 

[S2Sturges]

Crushing ride, Ja Ja probably wondered what the hell hit him.
Thanks for posting the vid

 

[Hugh Januss]

Wow, for someone with extremely non-aero ears he sure could ride fast. I guess the "unwriten rule" that everyone must wait if the yellow jersey has a mechanical, which we seemed to have decided last month was inviolate, does not extend to the pink jersey?

 

[Offtheback]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-J2bIsPDH8

Yup, he was 20% better than the rest.

 

[Michielveedeebee]

such a shame I never saw these things

 

[happychappy]

The wonders of modern medicine.

 

[Squares]

Great video, This was 1999 right?

Wasn't he excluded from the race a few stages later for exceeding the 50% hemotocrit rule?

I will refrain from further comment until they move this to the clinic.

 

[brianf7]

Great Vidio footage he was not picking up pasangers. Imagin how much faster he could have time trialed if he had had them ears pushed back.

 

[Anonymous]

oh, superb!!!

i miss his style!

 

[jens_attacks]

one of the greatest days in cycling from my era.legendary il pirata crushing everyone,awesome!

 

[roundabout]

Pantani was stupendously superior to everyone on the climbs at the Giro. The most uh "amazing" performance was pulling out a minute on everyone else in a few kilometers on this climb

http://www.salite.ch/madonna4.asp

 

[hrotha]

I don't understand why you guys are celebrating someone who so obviously upped the game in 1998 and 1999.

Okay, I understand since I too have my own double standards when it comes to cycling, but still.

 

[tubularglue]

Nice, didn't look like anyone was waiting for him! He was a great rider.
Thanks for sharing this video.

what a day; quite the team train

all the players, and all up to the limit (legally speaking)

 

[Ryaguas]

I don't understand why you guys are celebrating someone who so obviously upped the game in 1998 and 1999

Who cares about it? Il Pirata was a chosen one... and will be remembered forever...!

 

[happychappy]

Who cares about it? Il Pirata was a chosen one... and will be remembered forever...!

As a doped up cheater, you're right.

 

[tubularglue]

http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/results/1999/giro99/stage15.html

Report
Italian Marco Pantani, the leader of the Giro, gave a maestro's demonstration of climbing when he won Stage 15 up into Oropa. In 1993, this climb was memorable because of the problems that the great Spaniard encountered here. In 1999, it was the climb where only Laurent Jalabert could compete and then only for a time. Marco Pantani even lost 30 seconds on the lower slopes due to mechanical problems with his chain and derailleur.

With the 10.5 kms climb in front of him, Pantani was at the back of the main group after he got going again. He didn't panic. Observers pointed out the difference between the Italian's calm approach and the panic that German Jan Ullrich displayed last year on the plateau de Beille in the Tour of France where he blew himself and his teammates up after puncturing.

Instead, Pantani set about regaining the ground with tempo and was given a fantastic reception by the crowd lining the climb. After several kms he caught Ivan Gotti and then proceeded to chase the group of Roberto Heras, Nicola Miceli and Laurent Jalabert. Jalabert had driven the climb hoping to win the stage.

With 3 kms to go before the summit finish, Jalabert looked over his shoulders and saw Pantani coming. It seemed that he knew his fate there and then. Second place was going to be his as Pantani stormed past. At the end, Jalabert confessed that: "Pantani is too strong!"

But Jalabert worked hard to limit the damage knowing that there was still one more ITT to come. He lost only 21 seconds and is now 2.10 down on GC in third place. The ITT on Wednesday comes before more climbing however.

The Oropa (1144m) climb cost a lot of riders time. Italian Paolo Savoldelli (2nd on GC) was a victim as was 1997 Giro winner Ivan Gotti was more than 2 minutes down. Oscar Cameninzind, who already lost a lot of time the day before lost another minute today but Spaniard Jose Maria Jimenez lost around 6 and Alex Zulle lost 8. Zulle has withdrawn from the Giro as planned and has used the race to date to help him come back from his long suspension.

Pantani said afterwards: "I was especially aiming to take time out of my adversaries, and I was not particularly thinking about winning the stage."

 

[Ryaguas]

As a doped up cheater, you're right.

Most than 99% of the ppl remember Marco as one of the greatest cyclist that ever live... you are that tiny 1% of the ppl that nobody cares about...

 

[kurtinsc]

Most than 99% of the ppl remember Marco as one of the greatest cyclist that ever live... you are that tiny 1% of the ppl that nobody cares about...

The two aren't mutually exclusive.

He was one of the greatest cyclists and great to watch. And he was a doped up cheater. Similar to how I feel about Lance, Indurain, Ulrich and others.

 

[Barrus]

Please let's not devolve this thread into a doping talk, allright?

Anyway, I love Pantani, I think it was his 1998 Galibier win that cemented my love for cycling. The first ride I can really remember well.

And since such a topic is nothing without pics:

 

[Ryaguas]

Bah Marco... you went to a better place too early... but you live in our hearts...

Marco VIVE!!!

Pink and Yellow for his victories in '98!

 

[sadfitty]

http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/results/1999/giro99/stage15.html

Alex Zulle lost 8. Zulle has withdrawn from the Giro as planned and has used the race to date to help him come back from his long suspension.
"

LOL. Back when a few months was a long suspension...

 

[Jux1893]

It wasn't like he was going past clean riders.

The way he attacked in the climbs, trough the steep inside of the corners, was just amazing.

A trully great one.