BIANCHI XL EV2 Reparto Corse Mercatone Uno 55cm (1999-2000) – 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.

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 late 1990s Bianchi’s racing machine  racing, the BIANCHI XL EV2 Reparto Corse Mercatone Uno which dates back to 1999/2000. The whole bike looks amazing, from original Mercatone Uno paintjob, beautiful combination of polished /carbon Campagnolo Record 10s groupset, Pantani’s personalized Selle Italia Flite saddle, Time Equipe Mag pedals, ITM Millenium stem to titanium bottle cage and Coca Cola number plate. The cherry on the top of the cake is Meractone Uno 1999 jersey by Asics which comes with the bike.

Great chance for all Pantani fans to get this extraordinary piece for a reasonable price.

Frame / Fork: Bianchi XL EV2 Reparto Corse Mercatone Uno

Size:

– seat tube (c-t): 55 cm

– seat tube (c-c): 51,2cm

– top tube (c-c):  55 cm

– headset tube:  11,5 cm

– standover:  78 cm

Crankset: Campagnolo Record 10s (170mm 53/39)

Rear Derailleur: Campagnolo Record 10s

Front Derailleur: Campagnolo Record 10s

Brake Levers / Shifters: Campagnolo Record 10s

Brakes: Campagnolo Record

Cassete: Campagnolo Record 10s

Chain: Campagnolo Record 10s

Pedals: Time Equipe Mag

Stem: ITM Millenium 110mm

Handlebar: ITM

Hubs: Campagnolo Chorus

Seatpost: Campagnolo Record Carbon (27,2mm)

Seat: Selle Italia Flite ”Il Pirata”

Tires: Continental

Bottle cage: titanium

Handlebar tape: Bianchi cork (new)

Year: 1999-2000

Condition: Used, but very ggod condition. The frame has no cracks, no dents, not bent. Groupset  in excellent condition.

Price: SOLD (April 2020)