June 22, 2023

26 minutes

Available for over a year

With doping, drug funds, and dawn raids, the 1998 Tour de France is one of the most infamous races in cycling history. In the aftermath of the Festina Affair, it looks like the Tour will be damaged for good. But one man emerges victorious - Marco Pantani, the plucky underdog, and new-found saviour of the sport.

But not everyone is thrilled with his seemingly super-human victory... and the voice of cycling himself, Phil Liggett MBE, talks us through the dirtiest Tour in history.

Narrated by Hugh Dennis

Sound design: Rich Evans

Additional production: Lorenzo Bodrero, Matt Kenyon and Ed Morrish

Writer and producer: Katie Sayer

Executive producer: Jon Holmes

New episodes released weekly. If you’re in the UK, listen to the newest episodes of Sport’s Strangest Crimes first on BBC Sounds - bbc.in/3PbXQxv