PANTANI: THE ACCIDENTAL DEATH OF A CYCLIST
Driven by passion, marked by scandal.
Glory came at a price as the untold story of Italy’s most infamous athlete comes to Blu-ray and DVD on 26th May 2014
Discover a dramatic and exhilarating helter-skelter ride as a masterful new documentary shines a light on one of the most controversial sporting scandals in history.
In 1998 Marco Pantani, the most flamboyant and popular cyclist of his era, won both the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia – a titanic feat of physical and mental endurance that no rider has repeated since. He was a hero to millions – the saviour of cycling following the doping scandals which threatened to destroy the sport. However, less than six years later, aged just 34, he died alone, in a cheap Italian hotel room.
Brought to life on screen by Emmy-nominated writer and director James Erskine (One Night in Turin) and producer Victoria Gregory (Senna, Man on Wire), Pantani: The Accidental Death of a Cyclist, a New Black Films production, explores the startling truth behind one man’s remarkable descent from being amongst the finest athletes on earth to his tragic end shrouded in controversy.
Combining scintillating race archive with contemporary news footage, stylised reconstructions, and riveting interviews with his friends, family, colleagues, and rivals, this compelling film is not just about cycling but a psychological exploration of what drives athletes to compete; the masochistic pursuit of victory, to the point of destruction.
Featuring appearances from sporting legends Sir Bradley Wiggins, Russian cyclist Evgeni Berzin and World Champion Greg LeMond, Pantani: The Acccidental Death of A Cyclist artfully tells the story of the greatest climber of his generation. The film draws on original research by the filmmakers as well as Matt Rendell’s English language biography The Death of Marco Pantani: A Biography.
Man versus mountain, athlete versus the system, Marco Pantani versus himself. Embark on a visceral, physical and emotional journey into a world of discipline and intrigue as Pantani: The Accidental Death of a Cyclist comes to Blu-ray and DVD on 26th May.