MARCO PANTANI

Marco Pantani didn’t just climb mountains; he ignited the passion of millions of people. Known worldwide as “The Pirate,” Pantani was cycling’s last great romantic hero, capable of matching the legend of Fausto Coppi by winning the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France in the same year, in 1998. In these pages, the prestigious Italian journalist Beppe Conti reconstructs the champion’s life: from his humble beginnings and his impossible attacks on legendary summits like the Mortirolo and Alpe d’Huez, to the personal abyss into which he fell following his controversial disqualification from the 1999 Giro d’Italia. This is the story of a man who was immensely strong on the bike, yet extremely fragile in everyday life. A moving account of glory, loneliness, and the tragic fate that cut short his life on Valentine’s Day 2004, leaving an indelible mark on the history of the sport. A comprehensive biography of the champion who flew when the road climbed toward the sky.