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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When the American champion Lance Armstrong condescendingly, Mr Pantani thought allowed him to win the Mont Ventoux stage of the Tour in 2000, he was so angry that he made Mr Armstrong chase him through the peaks for the next two days.

ECONOMIST: Marco Pantani