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Convinced of a setup, Pantani is paranoid, following the money adds fuel to the fire. Why was there so much money in 90s cycling? And who was trying to get their hands on it?

Convinced of a setup, Pantani is paranoid and following the money adds fuel to the fire. Why was there so much money in 90s cycling? And who was trying to get their hands on it?

With the help of leading cycling historian Professor John Foot, Italian historian Dr Francesca Billiani, and Phil Liggett MBE, we learn how, over the course of the 90s, cycling went from a niche continental sport, to a billion-dollar industry - and how one man winning all the time might not have been in everyone’s best interests. From sponsors and gamblers to commercial and criminal enterprises - many had a vested interest in seeing Pantani fall.

It’s time to follow the money.

New episodes released Thursday. If you’re in the UK, listen to the full series of Sport’s Strangest Crimes - first on ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Sounds - bbc.in/3PbXQxv

Narrated by Hugh Dennis, with the voice of Iain Ferrier

Sound design: Rich Evans
Additional production: Lorenzo Bodrero, Matt Kenyon and Ed Morrish

Writer and producer: Katie Sayer
Executive producer: Jon Holmes

Available now

26 minutes

Broadcast

  • Sun 6 Aug 2023 00:00

Podcast