A few reactions:
1) That's not exactly pain-wallowing mountain climbing music. But OK.
2) Nice helmets. But OK.
3) Nice full pink kit, Marco. But with a move like that one at the 1:30 mark, again, OK.
There are things about road racing in Europe that I will never understand. Drugs. White spandex. Skinny tires in general. But Marco Pantani represents something that I can identify with in a way that transcends continents and disciplines.
If you want a quick history of The Freakin' Pirate, here's a good one:
If you want to watch a bunch of videos of Marco busting up the peloton on some of the tallest, steepest pavement in Europe, just youtube his name. You'll find a bunch of fans who, like me, disregard all the doping problems and just dig how he rode wildman style up all the climbs.
There's a certain resemblance here, but it's way subsurface. Like in the eyes, maybe.
And, back to the point, it might be in you a little too. Come find out.
February 14th, 2004, Marco Pantani finished himself off in a hotel next to the Mediterranean. There's something vaguely inspiring about a guy who would rather die than lose. Shawn and I like to go out every Feb 14th, find something tall (or a few tall things for that matter), and really try to blow ourselves up in memory of The Pirate. It just so happens that February 14th this year falls on a Saturday, the 5th anniversary of his death. The planets have aligned for a big one.
Meet out here at the rancho relaxo at 10 AM, 9:30 if you want some pancakes. Bring your good legs but leave the road bike at home. This ride will be almost all dirt roads.
1 comment:
The question remains: was he a victim of cycling, or cycling a victim of him?
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