Marco Pantani: Death of a Pirate: 1. The Cursed Champion
About this episode
In February 2004, 20,000 mourners lined the streets to pay their respects at the funeral of superstar cyclist, Marco Pantani.
In November 2021, a new inquiry into Pantani’s death was announced - this time investigating the theory that the Italian mafia might have been involved in his murder.
But in episode one, it’s 1990, and promising amateur Marco Pantani is just beginning to make his mark… With the help of Marco’s biographer, Matt Rendell, we meet the man behind the legend.
New episodes released Thursday. If you’re in the UK, listen to the full series of Sport’s Strangest Crimes - first on BBC Sounds - bbc.in/3PbXQxv
Narrated by Hugh Dennis, with the voices of Iain Ferrier and Helen Roper
Sound design: Rich Evans Additional production: Lorenzo Bodrero, Matt Kenyon and Ed Morrish
Writer and producer: Katie Sayer Executive producer: Jon Holmes
Get every episode summarized
Each time Sport's Strangest Crimes publishes, we email you a written briefing from the transcript — the topics, who appeared, and any specific claims, with the ad reads skipped.
Email me new episodesFree for 3 shows. No card needed.
Hosts & guests
No transcript yet
This episode has not been transcribed. Request it and it moves to the front of the queue.
More episodes
More from Sport's Strangest Crimes
Tennis' Darkest Hour: Trailer
Sport's Strangest Crimes
Shadows on the Pitch: 7. “Do I Not Like That?”
Sport's Strangest Crimes
Shadows on the Pitch: 6. A Dirty Game?
Sport's Strangest Crimes
Shadows on the Pitch: 5. All the Presidents Men
Sport's Strangest Crimes