Pink Jersey / Maglia Rosa signed by 1998 Giro d'Italia winner
Marco Pantani, who went on to also win that year's Tour de France riding for the Mercatone Uno racing team.
The 1998 Tour de France started in Ireland and Marco signed this jersey in Enniscorthy before the start of stage 3 (second road stage after 1st day prologue).
From the eBay messages I’ve received, it seems more details are required. If you’re only interested in the jersey with photographic evidence. There is none, and you need not read the rest of this listing.
My parents were Italian. I was born and live in England. My Father was and I still am big cycling fans. I married an Irish girl who was born in Enniscorthy, Ireland. When I found out the Tour de France would start in Ireland, I took a weelk off work and arranged to stay at my wife’s aunt’s house in Enniscorthy to see the race. I took with me, my old pink jersey, on the off chance I would be able to get it signed. I had not worn the jersey since I had been knocked off my bike in 1997; hence the tear in the shoulder.
On the day of the 3rd stage which started in Enniscorthy, I went down to the start, very early, looked around and saw where the team coaches were parking up. I went down to the Mercatone Uno coach and waited. The first rider out was Riccardo Forconi. I chatted with him until I saw Pantani coming out of the coach. I then dashed over and asked him to sign my jersey, which he did, but he seemed to not be in a chatty mood (this was only a few days since the Festina car was found crossing a border full of EPO) and keen to get away to find his bike. I was alone, and in those days without a mobile phone, so, there are no photos of Marco with me signing the shirt.