A holy card, a lucky charm, a guardian angel, a myth, a simple tribute, a fixed thought, a reassuring idea, a travel companion. Twenty-two years after his passing and 26 years after his last victory, achieved at Courchevel in the 2000 Tour, Marco Pantani is here: in all the definitions we have given and probably in a thousand others still. He is obviously present among the fans who have never stopped loving him, but he is also among the riders and perhaps it would be better to say he is among athletes, ever since French biathlete Emilien Jacquelin faced the races at the Milan Cortina Olympics wearing the Pirate's earring on his left lobe and with that very gesture climbed to the highest step of the podium, gilding a story that is legend.
Marco is here and will remain, he travels with Giulio Ciccone too, who has the cartoon image of the Pirate on his bike frame: with Pantani by his side, the Abruzzese rider is competing in the Tirreno-Adriatico, he was among the best yesterday in his homeland and will try to do the same today on the Pesaro climbs. Everyone can read that small symbol as they prefer, as they feel, as they believe: the certain thing is that Marco Pantani is here. And he will remain.