We don’t want to dampen everyone’s excitement over the Tour de France, but it’s worth remembering that the sheer mental toughness required for cycling isn’t gifted to everyone, and no recent rider demonstrates that better than tragic Italian climber Marco Pantani. The movie Pantani: The Accidental Death of a Cyclist is still screening at selected venues and well worth a couple of hours of your time.
Marco Pantani died of cocaine poisoning in 2004 after sliding from the heights of winning the Tour and the Giro in the same year in 1998. Beset by constant rumours of drug use, and feeling he had been abandoned by the sport he loved, Pantani fell into depression and despite several comeback attempts never regained the form that had brought him glory.
Pantani: The Accidental Death of a Cyclist is a sympathetic but not hagiographic telling of the Pantani story. Our reviewer Dan Kenyon said: “Based on Matt Rendell’s exhaustive biography and with fine commentary from both Rendell, with his precise and sad delivery, and the crisp, no nonsense school master style of Richard Williams, the triumph and ultimate tragedy of Pantani’s career is delivered in a tight and lean 96 minutes.”
While you can buy the film on DVD, nothing compares to seeing a cycling movie on the big screen. Pantani: The Accidental Death of a Cyclist is in the middle of a limited run of cinema showings. You can catch it at the following dates and venues:
July 4 onwards: Curzon, Ripon
July 5: Picturehouse, York
July 4–7: Film Theatre, Glasgow
July 4–10: Chapter, Cardiff
July 6: Brewery Art, Kendall
July 7 & 30: The Regal, Melton
July 7: Saffron Screen, Saffron Walden
July 7 & 9: Ultimate Picture Palace, Oxford
July 9-10: National Media Museum, Bradford
July 11 onwards: Arts Centre, Plymouth
July 12: Broadway, Nottingham
July 15: Hathersage (Cycle To The Cinema Event), Moorlands Discovery Centre
July 21: Pavilion, Halisham
July 21: David Lean Cinema, Halisham
July 27 & 31: Eden Court, Halisham
July 27 & 31: Eden Court, Inverness
Read Dan Kenyon’s full review of Pantani: The Accidental Death of a Cyclist

9 thoughts on “Catch a big screen showing of Pantani: The Accidental Death of a Cyclist”
Correction:
July 21: David
Correction:
July 21: David Lean Cinema, Croydon
Link: http://www.davidleancroydon.ticketsource.co.uk/search/searchPerformance.asp?performance_id=110520&sid=
Let’s face it, Pantani never
Let’s face it, Pantani never regained his earlier form after checks for evidence of EPO taking were introduced. Don’t get me wrong, he was a fantastic racer and one hell of a character but anyone who saw that final TT of the 98 Giro would be right to be highly suspicious and Pantani never tried to prove that he was clean…just moan that every one thought he cheated.
The Pantani story is ultimately one of tragedy but it also goes to explain why drug cheating (as long as one doesn’t get caught) is still tolerated in many Italian teams and amongst the tifosi.
Bobbinogs wrote:The Pantani
Being Italian, it’s interesting how many things about Italians I get to learn from non-Italians.
All the Italian cycling fans I ever spoke to condemn doping without any doubt, but since you’re so certain of your statements, I guess I’ll have to comply and start condoning it?
Or maybe you should think twice and avoid posting so broad, unsubstantiated and offensive statements?
‘Marco Pantani died of
‘Marco Pantani died of snorting cocaine in 2004’
Hardly an accident…….
you think he meant to kill
you think he meant to kill himself?
Anyway, back to the film….
Anyway, back to the film….
See on iTunes this evening.
See on iTunes this evening.
WOW, So excited to see this
WOW, So excited to see this is out soon. IL Pirata is my all time favourite rider. Never a dull moment with Marco around. Some of my fondest memories are Lance and Marco going H2h up Mt. Ventoux for one. Can’t wait to watch this ….has put a smile on my face 🙂 ty
Hi I have 2 tickets to the
Hi I have 2 tickets to the showing at Croydon, london tonight 21st July if anyone wants then, I can’t go so email me if you want them I can email you the tickets
nick.harvey@yahoo.com
July 21: David Lean Cinema, Croydon