'Pirate' Pantani can't wait for the Alps

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Posted: Sunday July 26, 1998 01:52 PM

Pantani: "My main goal now is to win in Les Deux-Alpes" AP

GRENOBLE, France (CNN/SI) -- Italy's "Il Pirata" Marco Pantani's bicycle is his ship, his team his crew, his legs his cannon and his experience and knowledge make him one of cycling's top climbers in the world. Pantani looks as much like the pirate he is known as and will be hoping to steal the treasured yellow jersey and the Tour de France from defending champion Jan Ullrich of Germany when the tour hits the Alps in its final week.

The first Alpine finish in Les Deux Alpes on Monday looks an ideal setting for the Italian to score another stage win after winning at the Plateau de Beille, in the Pyrenees.

Pantani won two stages in 1995 in Guzet-Neige and l'Alpe d'Huez, a resort where he won again two years later.

Although the climb to Les Deux Alpes is far less demanding than the road to Alpe d'Huez, Pantani can hardly wait to start pushing his bike up it.

"My main goal now is to win in les Deux-Alpes," he said, adding he was too tired from his victory in the Giro to try to win the Tour.

But victory will be far from easy.

The road to Les Deux Alpes is a steady climb which could favor powerful riders like Ullrich rather than pure climbers like Pantani.

The Italian, who usually waits for the later part of the stage before he makes a break, may decide to try his luck earlier this time when the pack reaches the highest summit in the Tour at Galibier-- 2,645 meters.

Pantani finished third overall in 1995 and 1997 and could do a little better this year. But the king of the mountains' jersey would be a fine consolation prize.

After the exclusion of Festina riders Richard Virenque, Alex Zuelle and Laurent Dufaux and the early exits of Spain's Abraham Olano and Italian Francesco Casagrande, Pantani looks the main threat to Ullrich in the Alps.

But on a good day, Frenchmen Laurent Jalabert and Luc Leblanc could also ride well.

The second Alpine stage of this Tour on Tuesday-- 204 kilometers (126 miles) between Vizille and Albertville -- looks much more unpredictable as it finishes with a long descent.

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Reuters contributed to this report.