BIANCHI XL EV2 Mercatone Uno – Marco Pantani Giro d’Italia ’99 – SOLD

Marco Pantani (13 January 1970 – 14 February 2004) widely considered as one of the best climbers of his era in professional road bicycle racing. He won both the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France and in 1998, is the last cyclist, and one of only seven, to win the Giro and the Tour in the same year. Pantani’s attacking style and aggressive riding turned him into a fan favorite in the late 1990s. He was known as “Il Pirata” (“The pirate”) because of his shaved head and the bandana and earrings he always wore.  At 1.72 m and 57 kg, he had the classic build for a mountain climber.

Marco Pantani (Mercatone Uno) at the Giro 1999 on his Bianchi XL EV2

Bianchi’s Reparto Corse (Bianchi’s Race Department) facility hand built frames for their top riders and of course Marco Pantani was one of them riding for Mercatone Uno sponsored by Bianchi. Their top model  XL EV2 Reparto Corse is made of lightweight triple-butted alloy shaped tubeset. Aluminum was the material of choice back then, even his biggets rival Lance Armstrong rode full carbon Trek 5500 that season. XL EV2 met Pantani’s  specifications with slightly sloping geometry, and a relatively short head tube to suit his aggressive in-the-drops climbing style. Though not super-stiff as compared to today’s carbon fiber machines, Pantani’s bike was light, even by modern standards.

Happy to present a legendary Bianchi’s racing machine, the BIANCHI XL EV2 Reparto Corse, almost identical to Marco Pantani’s bike used at the Giro d’Italia 1999. The whole bike looks amazing, from original Mercatone Uno paintjob, superb Campagnolo Record Titanium 9 groupset, Pantani’s personalized Selle Italia Flite saddle, Time Equipe Mag pedals, ITM Millenium stem and handlebar, Campagnolo Nucleon wheels, PMP titanium seatpost, so all exact same components as used by Pantani, aside that all in mint / new old stock condition. No much words needed.

Great chance for all Pantani fans to get this amazing piece.

Frame / Fork: BIANCHI XL EV2 Reparto Corse Mercatone Uno

Size:

– seat tube (c-t): 53.5 cm

– seat tube (c-c): 49.5 cm

– top tube (c-c): 54 cm

– headset tube: 13 cm

Wheelset: Campagnolo Nucleon

Crankset: Campagnolo Record Titanium 9s (53/39)

Rear Derailleur: Campagnolo Record Titanium 9s

Front Derailleur: Campagnolo Record Titanium 9s

Shifters: Campagnolo Record Titanium 9s

Brakes: Campagnolo Record Titanium 9s

Headset: Campagnolo Record threadless

Pedals: Time Equipe Pro

Stem: ITM Millenium

Handlebar: ITM Millenium 7075 classic

Seatpost: PMP Titanium (27,2mm)

Seat: Selle Italia Flite ”Il Pirata”

Handlebar tape: Bianchi cork

Year: 1999

Condition: Mint / new old stock condition.

Price: SOLD (February 2023)