BIANCHI XL EV4 Reparto Corse – M.Pantani Mercatone Uno replica (2001) – 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 d’Italia 2001

Marco Pantani (Mercatone Uno) at the Giro 2001

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 EV4 Reparto Corse is made of lightweight Hyperalloy triple-butted 7k aluminium developed in collaboration with Dedacciai. Aluminum was the material of choice back then, even some his rivals rode full carbon bikes that season. XL EV4 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.

Marco Pantani (Mercatone Uno) at the Giro d’Italia 2001

The whole bike looks amazing, from classic celeste/black paint scheme to superb combination of the best available and lightest parts: Campagnolo Record 10s groupset with special Bianchi carbon crankset, Bianchi XL Levitation wheels with carbon hubs, special Bianchi carbon seatpost, Pantani’s personalized Selle Italia Flite saddle, Time Equipe titan pedals, ITM Magnesium stem and ITM 7075 classic handlebar.

* Because 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 back in 2001, but the fact is that the compoments are identical and and the measurments are almost identical or the same. 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 EV4 Reparto Corse (made of Hyperalloy 7k aluminium) with full carbon Bianchi XL fork

Size:

– seat tube (c-t): 51.2 cm

– seat tube (c-c): 47 cm

– top tube (c-c):  52.9 cm

– head tube:  12.6 cm

– standover:  77 cm

Crankset: Bianchi carbon (170mm 53/39)

Rear Derailleur: Campagnolo Record 10s

Front Derailleur: Campagnolo Record 10s

Brake Levers / Shifters: Campagnolo Record 10s

Brakes: Campagnolo Record

Wheelset: Bianchi XL Levitation

Cassette: Campagnolo Record 10s

Pedals: Time Equipe Titan Mag

Stem: ITM Magnesium 120mm

Handlebar: ITM Millenium Ergal 7075, classic curve

Seatpost: Bianchi, carbon

Seat: Selle Italia Flite ”Il Pirata”

Bottle cage: Elite

Handlebar tape: Black, cork

Year: 2001

Condition: Used as a show room bike. No cracks, no dents, not bent. Groupset is in very good condition.

Weight: 7.69kg

Price: SOLD (September 2022)