2nd Memorial Pantani - NE

Cesenatico, Italy, June 5, 2005

2004 Results Results Past winners

Simoni wins second Memorial Marco Pantani

Gilberto Simoni (Lampre-Caffita)
Photo ©: Sirotti

Gilberto Simoni (Lampre-Caffita) has won the second edition of the Memorial Marco Pantani in Cesena, Italy. Simoni beat Panaria's Luca Mazzanti and Emanuele Sella at the end of the 76 km race which finished at the Santuario della Madonna del Monte a Cesena.

"This race, paying our respects at the cemetery, the visit to Pantani's parents, have made me reflect a lot," said Simoni afterwards. "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."

Simoni and Pantani
Photo ©: Sirotti

A big crowd turned out to see the 47 starters leave Cesenatico. After a steady beginning, a breakaway of five formed at halfway with Trombetti, Duma, M. Mazzanti, Kuchinski and Sacconi. Once the five were caught, the gruppo rode together until the finishing circuit, which was four laps of 3.5 km. On the second last lap, the bunch split into four pieces, with Simoni, Sella, Luca Mazzanti, and Marco Milesi (Liquigas) in front. On the last lap, it was just Simoni and Mazzanti with 18 seconds to the next two, and in the uphill finish, Simoni was better than Mazzanti.

Giuliano Figueras (Panaria) won the mountains competition.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Fotoreporter Sirotti

The monument to Pantani in Cesenatico
Simoni and Pantani were always rivals
Gilberto Simoni (Lampre-Caffita) poses in front of a Pantani picture
Emanuele Sella (Panaria) poses in front of a Pantani picture
The gruppo outside the cemetery
The gruppo stands outside Pantani's tomb
Inside the tomb of Marco Pantani
Simoni visits Pantani's tomb
The gruppo in front of Pantani's house with his father and sister
A plaque dedicated to Pantani on the course
Action at the rear end of the bike race
Simoni and Mazzanti ride away
Luca Mazzanti (Panaria) helped to initiate the final break
Simoni grabs a drink
Luca Mazzanti (Panaria) leads Simoni
Simoni and Mazzanti together on the last lap
Gilberto Simoni (Lampre-Caffita) wins the second Memorial Marco Pantani
That's better. Simoni rehydrates.
Yeah baby. Gibo does it for Marco
Gilberto Simoni (Lampre-Caffita) signs autographs for the tifosi
The victor Gilberto Simoni salutes from the podium
Simoni on the podium with Mazzanti (L) and Sella (R)
Plenty of folks were on hand, and Simoni obliges a few of them
Gibo with wife and Gibette
Roberto Zaccheroni and Franco Ballerini
Roberto Zaccheroni and Franco Ballerini

Results - 76.5 km

1 Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Lampre Caffita            2.15.00 (34.0 km/h)
2 Luca Mazzanti (Ita) Ceramica Panaria Navigare
3 Emanuele Sella (Ita) Ceramica Panaria Navigare     0.10
4 Marco Milesi (Ita) Liquigas-Bianchi                0.30
5 Massimo Mazzanti (Ita) Team Androni Giocattoli     0.50
6 Igor Pugaci (Mda) Universal Caffè Styloffice
7 Dean Podgornik (Slo) Tenax Nobili Rubinetterie
8 Leonardo Caneschi (Ita) Miche
9 Manuele Spadi (Ita) Ceramica Flaminia 
10 Konstantin Klyuev (Rus) Team Androni Giocattoli

Past winners

2004 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Saeco