Marco Pantani Memorial

In 2004, a few months after the death of Marco Pantani and during the passage of the Giro d'Italia stage in Cesena , the idea came up to create a race designed for professional cyclists and dedicated to the great athlete of Romagna. The founders of the competition were the chairman of Panathlon Cesena Dionigio Dinigio, the mayor of Cesena Giordano Conti and the entrepreneur Pinot Buda. The race was organized by Panathlon Cesena , which entrusted the technical leadership of the race to Sportivo Emilia .

The race was first held on June 5, 2004, and its first two issues were held in the form of a criterium at distances of 60 km and 76 km, respectively. Since 2006, the race has become a one-day race and is included in the UCI Europe Tour calendar with category 1.2 , raising it to 1.1 next year. Since 2010, the time of the race has moved from June to September-October.

In 2007 and 2008, the one-day name was changed to the Marco Pantani-Mercatone Uno Trophy Memorial ( Italian: Memorial Marco Pantani-Trofeo Mercatone Uno ), in honor of the Mercatone Uno cycling team, which Pantani has spoken for several years.

The race route begins in Cesenatico , the hometown of Marco Pantani, and follows to Cesena , where he was born, passing through several difficult climbs such as Muro di Sorrivoli , Salita dei Gessi and Madonna del Monte .

In 2013, the race combined with the Giro di Romagna race, also held in the same region, and was named the Memorial Marco Pantani-Giro di Romagna ( Italian: Memorial Marco Pantani-Giro della Romagna ). ^{[1] [2]}

In addition to competitions among the elite, the cycling race is also held among men under the age of 23 years (underders).

Gilberto Simoni , having won the race in 2005, paid tribute to Pantano, saying: ^[3]

This race, after visiting the cemetery and visiting his parents, made me think. Marco and I were never friends, we were rivals. 15 years ago, we acted as lovers, and when we became professionals, he achieved outstanding results, but I could not do this. I can say that I was jealous, and perhaps because of this, we never became friends. Being here and winning this race is very important to me. I want to pay tribute to Marco. Today I won for him.

Original text

This race, paying our respects at the cemetery, the visit to Pantani's parents, have made me reflect a lot. Marco and I were never friends, we were rivals. 15 years ago we duelled as amateurs, and when we turned pro, he obtained important results and I did not. I can say that I was jealous and perhaps it was because of this that we never became friends. To be here and to win this race has a great importance for me. I want to remember Marco in a proper manner. Today, I won for him.

• Marco Pantani Memorial at FirstCycling
• Marco Pantani Memorial at Memoire du cyclisme
• Marco Pantani Memorial at Cycling Archives
• Marco Pantani Memorial on CycleBase