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Thousands mourn Pantani
18/02/2004 21:00 - (SA)
Cesenatico - Thousands of mourners - fellow sports stars and ordinary neighbors alike - bid a final farewell to Marco Pantani at the funeral on Wednesday for the hugely popular cyclist who was tormented by doping allegations in the last few years.
Pantani's entire Mercatone Uno team, national cycling team coach Franco Ballerini, retired skier Alberto Tomba, former national soccer team coach Azeglio Vicini and a host of cyclists were among the mourners.
About 20 000 people gathered inside and, mostly, outside the small church in this Adriatic town for the service.
Former world champion Mario Cipollini, current world champion Igor Astarloa and soccer great Diego Maradona streamed past Pantani's casket before the funeral.
Pantani, 34, was found dead on the floor of his room at an apartment-hotel in the Adriatic resort city of Rimini late Saturday. An autopsy showed he had died from severe swelling from buildup of fluid in his brain and lungs, although the cause is still unclear.
About 10 bottles of tranquilizers of four different brands were found in the room.
Pantani's sudden death shocked Italy, prompting an outpouring of grief for one of Italy's most beloved and troubled sports stars.
Since his death, a fierce debate has been waged in Italian media regarding the pressures that Pantani faced from the press and the doping accusations he faced.
Notes that Pantani wrote in his passport were read aloud during the funeral service by his friend and manager Manuela Ronchi.
"For four years I've been in every court, I just lost my desire to be like all the other sportsmen," the note said. "But cycling has paid and many youngsters have lost their faith in justice."
Another section read: "All my colleagues have been humiliated, with TV cameras hidden in their hotel rooms to try and ruin families. How could you not hurt yourself after that?"
Cesenatico was draped with dozens of banners paying tribute to the 1998 Tour de France and Giro d'Italia winner. Many mourners wore a bandanna around their arms in memory of the one Pantani wore on his bald head - a fashion statement which, along with his earring, earned him the nickname of "il pirata," "the pirate."
Town official Michele Fiumi estimated that about 3 000 people had gone by Pantani's casket, leaving flowers and notes or silently praying. The flow of people, which started when the casket was put on display in the San Giacomo Apostolo church on Tuesday afternoon, continued relentlessly through the night, he said.
The funeral was held in the same church, which holds about 300 people. Town officials set up speakers outside the church for mourners who couldn't fit inside.
Pantani had suffered from depression in the past, but prosecutors have played down the possibility of suicide - a widespread speculation in the Italian media. Authorities said they will not be drawn out on the cause until the investigation is completed.
- AP
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