Cycling: Pantani considering switch
Tuesday, 27 February 2001 19:14Controversial cyclist Marco Pantani may be on the verge of turning his back on road racing, with reports that he is considering a move to mountain bike competition. According to his Mercantone Uno team manager Felice Gimondi, the 1998 Tour de France winner is seriously considering gearing next season towards aiming for the 2002 world mountainbike championships.
Gimondi, who himself won the Tour in 1965, suggests that safety is the underlying reason for Pantani's current change of heart, with the recent death of Spaniard Ricardo Ochoa underlining the vulnerability of road cyclists. However, the Italian climbing specialist is also known to be disenchanted with the racing scene after his recent prosecution for use of the banned performance booster EPO.
Pantani, who was expelled from the 1999 Tour of Italy while leading after he failed a blood test, is also embroiled in a number of other drug-related investigations at present. He nevertheless starts his 2001 season in today's opening stage of the Tour of Valencia in Spain.
Filed by Shane Murray
