Man On The Run; The Life And Death Of Marco Pantini

On 14 February 2004 Marco Pantani was found dead in a hotel room in Rimini. The 34-year-old climbing specialist, nicknamed 'The Pirate', was a Tour de France and Giro d'Italia champion, but his career was blighted by doping allegations after he was thrown out of the 1999 Giro d'Italia for failing a blood test. In the last months of his life he kept extensive notes for a book that would have told his story.

Thanks to her close rapport with Pantini's family, Manuela Ronchi has been able to tie together the loose ends of his story to loyally reconstruct the life of the champion. From his childhood discovery of cycling to the triumphs, losses and scandal that accompanied one of the few sporting personalities capable inspiring in his fans a passion for cycling, here, for the first time, is the full, intimate, authentic and personal story of Pantani's remarkable career.