In 1998, 28-year-old injured Italian cyclist Marco Pantani won the Tour de France and the Giro d’Italia: an almost superhuman fear. The next year he was swept up in a doping scandal and he spiralled into depression, ending his life in shame, bitterness and cocaine addiction.
James Erskine’s documentary delves into the sad, fascinating details, painting Pantani as a victim and the world of competitive cycling as corrupt.
Similar to Asif Kapadia’s Senna , the pacey mix of grueling archive footage and poignant personal probing makes it essential watching, even for anyone who can’t stand the sport.
