Although Mr Pantani was never definitively found guilty of using drugs, he could not throw off the accusations.

ECONOMIST: Marco Pantani

Having won their keenest victories alone, they struggled alone, like Mr Pantani, in the less exalting parts of life.

ECONOMIST: Marco Pantani

Marco Pantani, who previously used banned drugs, was excluded, as was the Saeco team, whose leader is Laurent Dufaux, the former Festina rider.

BBC: Battle against drug peddlers continues

Although Mr Pantani had been technically part of a team in all his races, his career was a succession of solitary triumphs against the giants of nature.

ECONOMIST: Marco Pantani

Ivan Basso, Jan Ullrich, Marco Pantani, and Joseba Beloki look on from a distance, bewildered that after training all their lives they continually stand in your shadow.

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