Pantani’s bikes on display at Wilier

Wilier has been the bike sponsor of a number of race-winning teams over the years. We saw bikes ridden by several famous riders on a recent visit to its factory.

Marco Pantani aboard a Wilier (Photo Watson)

(Image credit: Watson)

Not least was Marco Pantani when he rode for the Mercatano Uno team. Pantani still holds the record for the fastest ascent of Alpe d’Huez, when he was riding a Wilier. His ascent in 1997 is recorded at 37 minutes 35 seconds. In comparison, Thibaut Pinot won this year’s stage to Alpe d’Huez with an ascent in 42 minutes 18 seconds whilst Nairo Quintana’s nail biting ride was in 39 minutes 22 seconds.

>>> Pantani's bike on display at Barrow shop

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Paul Norman

Paul started writing for Cycling Weekly in 2015, covering cycling tech, new bikes and product testing. Since then, he’s reviewed hundreds of bikes and thousands of other pieces of cycling equipment for the magazine and the Cycling Weekly website.

He’s been cycling for a lot longer than that though and his travels by bike have taken him all around Europe and to California. He’s been riding gravel since before gravel bikes existed too, riding a cyclocross bike through the Chilterns and along the South Downs.