The late Tour de France winner Marco Pantani took cocaine to cope with the fallout from his positive doping test in 1999, the cyclist's former girlfriend said in an interview.

As it happened: Late GC attack on stage 11 of the Giro d’Italia As it happened: GC riders and puncheurs battle on uphill finish at stage 13 of the Giro d’Italia As it happened: Breakaway ...

But a failed doping test two days before certain victory in the '99 Tour of Italy sent Pantani spiraling toward his demise. He turned to cocaine, longtime girlfriend Christina Jonsson has said, to ...