Il Pirata
The legend of Marco Pantani was truly born on the climb to the summit of the Mortirolo in 1994. Now a sculpture, built in 2006, sits high on a walled embankment depicting the Italian climber in full flight on a steep shard of mountain road resembling the attack unleashed on Miguel Indurain in the now infamous stage of the 1994 Giro d’Italia. Such is Pantani’s connection with the climb that a special award, the Cima Pantani or Pantani Summit prize is now awarded to the first rider over the Mortirolo whenever it features in the Giro.
It’s place at the Giro d’Italia
The Mortirolo has only a short affinity with Italy’s grandest bike race but its notoriety was quickly created from the 1994 Giro d’Italia where it did more than just decide the Giro, it left a legacy for the Italian sporting public to cherish. On stage 14 of the Giro, a waifish, balding rookie from the Adriatic coast, Marco Pantani, stunned the Giro peloton and the watching public by winning on the longest and most mountainous day of the race so far in Merano. Beginner’s luck, muttered the experts – until the next day, when with almost balletic grace, Pantani shimmered away from champion-elect Evgeny Berzin and Tour de France king Miguel Indurain on the Mortirolo. Pantani duly won his second straight stage in Aprica, sending the fans and TV commentators into raptures.