Tour de France in Cesenatico: Marco Pantani’s parents

The Tour de France stops in Marco Pantani’s hometown of Cesenatico, where his family still lives today. The second stage shows how important the cyclist, who died twenty years ago, was and is for Italy. A meeting with his parents.

It is, of course, about the prodigal son. The prodigal son of a country, a city – and a family: the Pantani family. Tonina and Paolo Pantani still live in Cesenatico today, and so they have accepted the invitation to the opening ceremony, now that the Tour de France is stopping in their homeland for the second stage. Twenty years after the death of their son Marco, they are standing on a stage. Surrounded by politicians and sports officials in shirts and suits, the two seem to have been inserted into the scene. Tonina Pantani is wearing a floral dress, Paolo a yellow T-shirt with a photo of his son and the words “Marco per sempre” – forever. While the mayor and others are speaking, the Pantanis are not given a chance to speak; instead, they are presented with a medal. Then they step off the stage – and tell their story here.