An investigation into the death of Tour de France winner Marco Pantani has been reopened, according to Italian media reports.<br /><br />Family members of the cyclist are said to have presented fresh evidence, alleging that Pantani was beaten by a group of men, forced to drink cocaine and murdered. They also reportedly claim that key evidence was missed in the initial inquiry.<br /><br />A giant of Italian cycling, Pantani was found dead in a hotel room on Valentine’s Day 2004. His death was ruled accidental – the result of a drug overdose – but his family has long contested those findings, suspecting foul play.<br /><br />Pantani cemented his place as a sporting great in 1998, winning both the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia in the same year. <br /><br />Allegations of drug use and a cocaine habit dogged his latter years, before his death aged 34.
