Marco Pantani: RIP. I doubt anyone in the last 20 years could hang onto his wheel on long steep climbs.

His 1998 Bianchi featured a 9-speed Campagnolo drivetrain. 54-44 rings and a 11-23 cassette.

If you weigh 125 pounds and crank out big watts, then you don’t need low gears; you just go fast.