Before you listen to this BBC podcast, I'd like to tell you why I love podcasting.

I'm Sasha Johansson, I'm an Assistant Commissioner for the BBC and I work on making podcasts.

My real passion is discovering unbelievable unheard stories and working with the biggest

stars who can really bring those stories to life.

I love the whole process of making podcasts from the spark of an idea to hearing the final

edit.

There's nothing like it.

What makes BBC podcast special is that we're working for you, so whatever we commission

has to reflect the things that you care about and love, wherever you are in the UK.

So if you like this BBC podcast, there's so much more to discover.

Have a listen on BBC Sounds.

On Valentine's Day 2004, one of Italy's greatest cyclists was found dead in mysterious

circumstances.

In Italy, there's growing mystery by the death of one of the country's sporting heroes.

And Tony, known as the pirate because of the yellow bandana he wore around his head.

In November 2021, new evidence had supposedly come to light, alleging that the Italian

mafia were involved in Marco Pantani's death.

Five other top European cyclists have died mysteriously in the last year.

The mafia goes where money is.

Nearly 20 years on, are we any closer to knowing for sure what happened to the pirate?

It's a very dark story, the Pantani story.

It's the tragedy.

...