BIANCHI XL EV2 Reparto Corse – M.Pantani Mercatone Uno Tour de France 2000 – 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.

M.Pantani (Mercatone Uno) at the Tour de France 2000

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 very light, even by modern standards.

M.Pantani with L.A. at the Tour de France 2000

Here we are proudly presenting one of the most iconic bikes ever – BIANCHI XLEV2 Reparto Corse Mercatone Uno, identical to the bike used by Marco Pantani at the Tour de France 2000. The whole bike looks amazing, from the Tour de France edition paint, from superb and beautiful combination of polished /carbon Campagnolo Record 10s groupset, Campagnolo Nucleon wheelset, Campagnolo Record Titanium seatpost, Pantani’s personalized Selle Italia Flite saddle, Time Equipe Mag pedals, ITM Millenium stem and handlebar, Coca Cola Tour de France water bottle and racing number.

We know we will get a lot of comments and questions about it so here are some facts:

• We can’t /don’t want to claim that Pantani rode this bike at the Tour de France 2000, but the fact is that the frame and compoments are identical to the one used by Pantani. Frame measurments are identical or a few millimetres apart.
• Unfortunately we don’t have a confirmation the bike was ridden by Pantani, otherwise the asking price would be 50.000€.

Unique chance for all Pantani fans to get this extraordinary piece.

Frameset: Bianchi XL EV2 Reparto Corse – “M.Pantani Mercatone Uno, Tour de France 2000”

Size:

– seat tube (c-t): 52.5 cm

– top tube (c-c):  53.5 cm

– head tube:  13.6 cm

– standover:  77.5 cm

Wheelset: Campagnolo Nucleon

Crankset: Campagnolo Record 10s (53/39)

Rear Derailleur: Campagnolo Record 10s

Front Derailleur: Campagnolo Record 10s

Levers: Campagnolo Record 10s

Brakes: Campagnolo Record 10s

Pedals: Time Equipe Mag

Stem: ITM Millenium 120mm

Handlebar: ITM Millenium Ergal 7075 (classic)

Seatpost: Campagnolo Record Titanium (27,2mm)

Seat: Selle Italia Flite ”Il Pirata”

Tires: Continental Grand Prix 3000

Handlebar tape: Bianchi, black cork

Year: 2000

Condition: Used, but very good condition. No cracks, no dents, not bent. Groupset is in very good condition.

Weight: 7.55kg

Price: SOLD (June 2023)