Marco Pantani of Italy has pulled out of the Tour de France because of illness, his team Mercatone Uno said late Tuesday.
The Italian team doctor said Pantani was suffering from dysentery and advised him not to leave on the 17th stage Wednesday to Evian-les-Bains.
Pantani had been suffering from intestinal problems during the 16th stage of the race from Courchevel to Morzine, which was won by controversial French rider Richard Virenque.
The thirty-year-old Pantani won the two most prestigious stages of the tour; last Thursday, he triumphed in the grueling 149km ride from Carpentras to Mont Ventoux summit and then on Sunday, he was first across the finish line of the 173.5km Alpine ride from Briancon to Courchevel.
"I was unable to take solid food," he explained when he arrived at Morzine. "I was completely drained, without any strength, at the foot of the Joux-Plane climb."
The shaven-headed Italian, nicknamed The Pirate, has taken part in the Tour de France five times since 1994, winning it in 1998, but has never before been forced to drop out.
He was in 14th place in the overall standings, 20min 46sec behind the American Lance Armstrong – (AFP)
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