Pantani found dead

parasite

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/cycling/3489569.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/cycling/3489619.stm

mike65

If its not a heart attack caused by drugs I'll be amazed.

Mike.

Capt'n Midnight

The Italian news said he was found with a lot of medicines and also left some "writings" behind. Maybe he named names ?

mike65

Looks like it might be suicide. -

This from Pro-Cycling.

Latest reports in Italy have revealed further details about the circumstances of Marco Pantani’s tragic death in Rimini last night, which bears all the hallmarks of suicide.

According to latest news bulletins Pantani was found by a porter at the three-star Le Rose hotel at around 9.30 last night, face down and half-naked with his belongings strewn all over his fifth-floor bedroom. Close to the dead body police reportedly found antidepressant and anti-anxiety drugs, in addition to hand-written notes referring, amongst other things, to Pantani’s life as a cyclist. Despite persistent rumours of Pantani’s battle with drug abuse and his admission to a clinic specialising in the treatment of drug and alcohol dependency last summer, current reports suggest that there were no narcotics in the room.

Confirmation of the date of Pantani’s funeral awaits an autopsy, to be performed on Monday, and the decision of the 34 year-old deceased star’s parents. Pantani’s short and ill-fated stay in the Hotel Le Rose in Rimini coincided with a holiday that Ferdinando and Tonina Pantani were taking in Greece. They have now returned to the family's villa in Cesenatico, a short distance from Rimini.

Latest pictures from the Adriatic resort show dozens of journalists, photographers, cyclists and onlookers of all ages thronged outside the hotel where Marco Pantani spent his last hours.

Shortly after lunchtime on Sunday one of the Rimini officials leading the enquiry revealed that Pantani’s last contact with humanity had been just over 24 hours earlier – a telephone call to the hotel porter at around 11am on Saturday. Six hours later he was sighted for the last time, and at 9.30pm his door was forced open to reveal the lifeless body.

First accounts from the staff at the seafront Le Rose hotel report that Pantani had appeared “strange, tired and completely absent,” in the past few days - all signs that, tragically, turned out to be as transparent as they were ominous.

Dr Bolouswki

Very sad. A yougn dude... RIP

mike65

More from bbc -

Cyclist Marco Pantani, who has been found dead in a hotel room in Italy, did not commit suicide, according to the local magistrate Paolo Gengarelli.

"Nobody is talking about suicide and I exclude everything until the end of the autopsy," Gengarelli said.

Medical examiner Francesco Toni said Pantani died of a heart attack, for which the cause had not been found.

Pantani, whose career has been blighted by doping allegations, was found with 10 packets of prescription sedatives.

The autopsy is due to be completed on Monday morning, but investigators have ruled out violence.

Mike.

uberwolf

I have to admit being in a state of relative shock when I heard it. A genius when the road went upwards, he added much need flair and colour to the pro peleton for much of the nineties. No point in brushing over his drugs problems it is still sad for a man of such strength to go out like this.

On the same weekend a young belgian cyclist of only 21 was found dead of a heart attack in his bed.

R.I.P.

da_deadman

Yeah its sad and tragic, not least because he was still so young. I have to admit that I never liked him, his character just made me dislike him while others really liked him for it. And I have always doubted his innocence in the drugs scandal. BUT, he was beyond doubt a very talented climber. His stage wins in the Tour and Giro were sometimes amazing. To win both of these Grand Tours in one year is still a great feat.
RIP Marco.

uberwolf

as he should be remembered.

cooker3

I was really shocked when I heard the news, he was such an exciting rider, he made you want to watch cycling. I remember one of my favoutite Tour stages of all time was in 98 when he beat Ullrich by 8 minutes on a mountain top finish he was absolutely majestical that day, I feel honoured that I seen him in Dublin on the prologue, the year he won it. He will be very much missed and it's a terrible loss for cycling.
RIP

kmart6

When I heard it the other day on Eurosport I was shicked as cycling has now lost one of it's greats.

R.I.P.

uberwolf

acute posioning - accidental