The Rise of Il Pirata and the Modern Climbing Elite

Professional cycling has witnessed few figures as compelling as Marco Pantani. Known as "Il Pirata" for his bandana and earring, Pantani redefined mountain stage racing in the late 1990s with explosive, long-range attacks on the steepest alpine passes. His 1998 Giro-Tour double remains a benchmark of climbing excellence. Two decades later, a new generation of riders—Tadej Pogačar, Egan Bernal, and Primož Roglič—commands the Grand Tours with a blend of power, precision, and data-driven preparation. This expanded analysis examines Pantani’s career in depth, compares his methods and achievements with these contemporary stars, and explores how the sport’s technical and ethical evolution has reshaped the art of climbing.

Marco Pantani: The Pirate’s Ascent

Early Years and Rise to Prominence

Marco Pantani was born on January 13, 1970, in Cesena, a town in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy. He began racing as a teenager, showing an early preference for mountainous terrain. In 1992, he won the Girobio—the amateur version of the Giro d’Italia—announcing his arrival as a climbing prodigy. He turned professional later that year with Carrera Jeans–Tassoni, a team known for nurturing Italian talent.

Pantani’s first major professional impact came in the 1994 Giro d’Italia. He won three mountain stages, including a memorable victory on the Mortirolo pass, where he attacked from the base and never looked back. He finished second overall behind Evgeni Berzin, but his aggressive style earned him the nickname "Il Pirata" from the Italian press. That same year, he won the King of the Mountains classification at the Tour de France, signaling his ability to compete at the highest level.

The 1998 Double: A Peak Achieved

Pantani’s defining season came in 1998. He won the Giro d’Italia with stage wins on the Mortirolo, the Passo del Tonale, and the Madonna di Campiglio. His attack on the Mortirolo—launched 60 kilometers from the finish—is still considered one of the most audacious in Giro history. At the Tour de France that July, he took the yellow jersey after a solo attack on the Col du Galibier, then sealed his victory with a dominant ride on Alpe d’Huez. The 1998 double—winning both the Giro and the Tour in the same year—had not been achieved since Miguel Indurain in 1993 and has been matched only by Chris Froome in 2013 and Tadej Pogačar in 2024.

Technique and Tactical Philosophy

Pantani’s climbing technique was distinctive. He rode with a high cadence—often 90 to 100 revolutions per minute—while dancing on the pedals, using his upper body to generate momentum. His power-to-weight ratio was exceptional, estimated at around 6.5 to 6.8 watts per kilogram for extended efforts, though exact figures from the era remain debated. Pantani’s tactical approach was simple and devastating: attack early, attack alone, and rely on his ability to sustain intensity longer than anyone else. He viewed pacelines and team support as secondary to individual courage.

Major Achievements

  • 1998 Giro d’Italia Winner – Three mountain stage wins; sealed overall on the Passo del Tonale
  • 1998 Tour de France Winner – Three mountain stage wins; yellow jersey secured on Alpe d’Huez
  • King of the Mountains – Tour de France (1994, 1995, 1998); Giro d’Italia (1998)
  • Tour de France Young Rider – 1994, 1995
  • Giro d’Italia stage wins – 8 career stages, including multiple victories on the Mortirolo and Passo dello Stelvio
  • Tour de France stage wins – 9 career stages, including three at Alpe d’Huez

The Shadow of Doping

Pantani’s career cannot be discussed without acknowledging doping. In 1999, while leading the Giro d’Italia, he was expelled after a hematocrit test exceeded the allowed threshold of 50 percent—a sign of erythropoietin (EPO) use. He faced subsequent legal issues and struggled with depression, retiring in 2004. His death from acute cocaine poisoning in 2004, at age 34, cemented a tragic narrative. Modern anti-doping measures—including the biological passport and out-of-competition testing—have reduced the prevalence of such practices, making direct physiological comparisons with today’s riders inherently complex.

Contemporary Climbing Legends: Profiles in Power

The current era features a group of climbers whose achievements rival Pantani’s, but whose approaches reflect a sport transformed by technology, team tactics, and rigorous testing. Three riders stand out as the leading climbing specialists of the 2020s.

Tadej Pogačar: The Complete Cyclist

Born in 1998 in Komenda, Slovenia, Tadej Pogačar joined UAE Team Emirates in 2019 and won the Tour de France in 2020 at age 21, overtaking Primož Roglič on the final time trial. He repeated in 2021 with dominant climbing performances on the Col de la Loze and Mont Ventoux, then added a third Tour victory in 2023 and a fourth in 2024. Unlike Pantani, Pogačar is an elite time trialist, winning multiple stages against the clock. He also excels in one-day classics, winning Il Lombardia (2021, 2022, 2023) and Strade Bianche (2022, 2024).

Climbing Style: Pogačar climbs with a controlled, rhythmic cadence around 85 to 95 rpm. He rarely attacks from far out; instead, he accelerates gradually, testing rivals with sustained power surges. His ability to win on both high-altitude passes and steep, technical descents makes him the most versatile climber of his generation. Power data suggests he can sustain 6.6 to 6.9 watts per kilogram for 20-minute efforts, slightly higher than Pantani’s estimated peak.

Key Victories: Tour de France (2020, 2021, 2023, 2024), Il Lombardia (2021, 2022, 2023), Strade Bianche (2022, 2024), UAE Tour (2021, 2022), Tirreno-Adriatico (2021, 2022)

Egan Bernal: The Colombian Strategist

Egan Bernal, born in 1997 in Zipaquirá, Colombia, won the Tour de France in 2019 at age 22, becoming the first Colombian and the youngest rider in 110 years to claim the yellow jersey. He joined INEOS Grenadiers (then Team Sky) in 2018 and developed under the team’s disciplined, power-based training system. Bernal won the 2021 Giro d’Italia with a commanding performance on the Passo Gavia, but a training crash in 2022 left him with multiple vertebral fractures and a collapsed lung. His return to competition in 2023 demonstrated resilience, though he has not yet regained his pre-crash form.

Climbing Style: Bernal climbs in a seated position with a smooth pedal stroke and a relatively low cadence of 75 to 85 rpm. He prefers to follow attacks rather than initiate them, conserving energy for the final kilometers of a stage. His tactical patience resembles that of Miguel Indurain more than Pantani. Bernal’s power output is estimated at 6.4 to 6.7 watts per kilogram, placing him near Pantani’s historical range but with less explosive acceleration.

Key Victories: Tour de France (2019), Giro d’Italia (2021), Tour de Suisse (2019), Paris-Nice (2019), Colombia Nacionales de Ruta (2018)

Primož Roglič: The Power Engineer

Primož Roglič, born in 1989 in Trbovlje, Slovenia, began his athletic career as a ski jumper before switching to cycling at age 23. His climbing ability emerged relatively late, but by 2019 he was a Grand Tour contender, winning the Vuelta a España in 2019, 2020, and 2021, plus the Giro d’Italia in 2023. Roglič’s strength lies in sustained high-cadence climbing on steady gradients. He can maintain 6.5 to 6.8 watts per kilogram for 30-minute efforts, often using a relentless tempo to shed rivals rather than attacking suddenly.

Climbing Style: Roglič climbs from the front, setting a pace that his competitors cannot match. He relies on his time trialing background to gain time in flats and climbs alike. His primary weakness appears on gradients exceeding 15 percent, where his larger frame—approximately 66 kilograms—becomes a disadvantage compared to lighter climbers like Bernal or Pantani. Roglič’s approach is the antithesis of Pantani’s solo artistry; it is controlled, data-driven, and team-oriented.

Key Victories: Giro d’Italia (2023), Vuelta a España (2019, 2020, 2021), Liège–Bastogne–Liège (2020), Tour de Romandie (2018, 2019, 2021), Critérium du Dauphiné (2022)

Comparative Analysis: Era, Equipment, and Ethos

Climbing Speed and Power Output

Comparing climbing speeds across eras requires adjusting for equipment and course conditions. Pantani’s 1997 ascent of Alpe d’Huez—37 minutes, 45 seconds—was considered extraordinary. In 2022, Pogačar climbed the same route in 38 minutes, 1 second on a heavier bike with disc brakes and aero bars, suggesting his raw power output is comparable. When normalized for bike weight and road surface improvements, modern climbers likely produce 5 to 8 percent higher sustainable power than riders of the 1990s.

Technology and Preparation

Pantani trained with basic heart rate monitors and subjective feel. Modern riders use power meters to target precise wattage ranges, GPS devices for route analysis, and indoor trainers for structured workouts. Nutrition has also evolved: Pantani relied on pasta and simple gels; today’s climbers follow periodized carbohydrate plans and use intra-race fueling strategies including caffeine, electrolytes, and branched-chain amino acids. Bike weight has dropped from approximately 8.5 kilograms in Pantani’s era to the UCI minimum of 6.8 kilograms, with integrated cockpit designs and disc brakes improving handling and aerodynamics.

Anti-Doping Environment

The most significant difference between Pantani’s era and the present is anti-doping enforcement. In the 1990s, EPO use was widespread and testing was infrequent. Modern riders are subject to the biological passport, which tracks blood values over time, and undergo regular out-of-competition controls. While doping has not been eliminated, the barriers are substantially higher. This shift complicates direct comparisons of physiological performance, as Pantani’s estimated power outputs may have been pharmacologically enhanced.

Tactical Evolution

Pantani often attacked alone, trusting his own legs over team support. He viewed pacelines as a crutch and preferred to break the race with a single, decisive move. Modern climbers operate within structured team systems. Pogačar relies on UAE Team Emirates’ super-domestiques—riders like Adam Yates and Rafał Majka—to control tempo and chase breaks. Roglič depends on Jumbo-Visma’s "train" to neutralize attacks. Bernal’s INEOS Grenadiers use a similar model. Team tactics have reduced the frequency of long-range solo attacks, making racing more predictable but also more strategically complex.

Legacy and Cultural Impact

Pantani’s Enduring Mythology

In Italy, Pantani remains a folk hero. His 1998 double is celebrated as a triumph of individual will against more powerful teams. Tifosi line the Mortirolo and Alpe d’Huez with banners bearing his image, and his name appears in cycling literature as shorthand for climbing bravery. Yet his doping violations and tragic death have made him a cautionary figure, emblematic of the sport’s dark era. His legacy is simultaneously inspiring and sobering.

The Modern Pantheon

Pogačar is widely regarded as the most complete rider of his generation, drawing comparisons to Eddy Merckx for his versatility. Bernal symbolizes Colombia’s emergence as a cycling powerhouse and represents the resilience of a young champion recovering from severe injury. Roglič proves that athletic talent can transfer successfully from one sport to another, and his three Vuelta wins mirror Pantani’s dominance in a single Grand Tour format. None of these riders possesses Pantani’s dramatic mystique, but their collective achievements have expanded the definition of climbing excellence.

Conclusion: Two Eras, One Passion

Marco Pantani and today’s climbing legends share an essential quality: the ability to ascend steep mountain passes faster than any of their peers. But the context surrounding that ability has shifted dramatically. Pantani’s era rewarded raw aggression and risk-taking, while the modern era emphasizes precision, team coordination, and consistent physiological monitoring. Both approaches have produced extraordinary results. Pantani’s 1998 double and Pogačar’s four Tour victories represent peaks of human performance separated by twenty-five years of change. The climbing pantheon remains open to both the pirate and the professional.

For deeper reading on these riders and the evolution of climbing performance, see Cycling Weekly’s profile of Marco Pantani, Cycling News analysis of Tadej Pogačar, and BBC Sport’s comparison of climbing greats. For additional perspective on training methods, see TrainingPeaks’ guide to power-based climbing and VeloNews’ history of bike technology.