Written by: Theodore Garlock

Ride Marco, Ride.

It started when he was just fourteen,

He wasn’t an ordinary teen.

He worked hard and strong,

And long, and long.

Ride Marco, ride.

He turned pro when he was just seventeen,

He was still a troubled teen.

He dreamed of being the best,

Better then all of the rest.

Ride Marco, ride.

He always tried to win in France,

He soon would get his chance.

It was at the ’98 tour,

He beat them all to the floor.

Ride Marco, ride.

He soon lost the fight,

Of pro cycling greatest plight.

He greatly used,

And severely abused.

Ride Marco, ride.

Some people think he is a loser,

Just another user.

Some others don’t agree,

About why his life had to flee.

Ride, Marco, ride.

Some people take him as a saint,

They think his life was not so taint.

I think that they are right,

They have the most insight.

Ride Marco, ride.

He made a very big mistake,

But come on, for goodness sakes,

We must remember all the good,

He brought along with his self-hood.

Ride Marco, ride.

Although he does not live on,

His presence is still strong.

Remember him for all his good,

He brought to cycling statehood.

Ride Marco, ride.

He is always in our hearts,

Let’s protect his influence in our art.

We only have one chance,

So let ourselves expanse.

Ride Marco, ride.

Live life well,

Try to not dwell,

On the bad,

Or the latest fad.

Ride Marco, ride.

Remember the lessons you have learned,

Love everything you have earned.

Life is a precious thing,

It could be over in a fling.

Ride Marco, ride.

Learn from his mistakes,

Don’t crash under high-stakes.

Live the way you truly want to,

That’s what he would say to you.

Ride Marco, ride.

This poem is dedicated to the memory of one of cycling greatest riders, Marco Pantani. Marco died alone in a hotel room on February 14, 2004. He was only thirty-four years old.