Pantini: The Accidental Death of a Cyclist

July 30, 2015

 After writing about the Tour de France, I still wanted to complete my research about the event. My search led me to a good documentary now on Netflix called "Pantani: The Accidental Death of a Cyclist." It's a film on the life and times of Marco Pantani, regarded by his Italian countrymen as the king of the cycling world for a few years.

Not only does the film capture the life of Pantani, but the viewer also gets to see incredible scenes of European cycling events. You are shown the beautiful landscapes of the French countryside as the racers come pedaling through. The next moment you see amazing crowd shots as the riders are racing through the narrow streets to adoring fans. Many of the sequences appear to be taken by individuals on bikes or cars and look amazingly like "Go Pro" footage. I really enjoyed the perspective of the hill climbs and the strategy employed by the cyclist.

The life of Marco Pantani is one of that reaches tremendous highs and lows. The pinnacle taking place in 1998 when he won both the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France, never done in the world of professional cycling. The lowest is the brutal crash with a car in 1995 that left him with multiple fractures in his legs. Another high was his inspiring comeback to win two stages of the Tour de France in 1997.

The most troubling aspect of Pantani's career is the doping allegations that plagued him from 1999 on. Pantani passed away in 2004 believably from the result of a cocaine overdose. He will always be remembered as one of the best hill climbers of his era in professional road bicycle racing. In addition, he was a fan favorite known for his colorful and endearing personality. Lastly, the film will give you a voyeuristic look into the life of a cyclist and the world-class events they compete in.