In a detailed retrospective of his time inside the peloton, Lluna reflected on his career and his deep personal bond with the late Italian climber Marco Pantani, whom he cared for during some of the tumultuous years of Pantani’s professional journey. Lluna recalled that working with Pantani revealed a complex human being behind the iconic bandana and aggressive mountain attacks.
From the Valleys of Spain to the Heart of the WorldTour
When reflecting on his role, Lluna has frequently described the riders under his direct care with fierce paternal affection. That protective instinct defined his tenure alongside Pantani, a rider whose soaring popularity was matched only by the crushing psychological pressure he faced under the media microscope.
The Bond with Marco Pantani
Lluna spent pivotal years working closely with the Italian star, witnessing firsthand the toll that fame, expectation, and relentless public scrutiny took on the 1998 Tour de France winner.
For caregivers like Lluna who witnessed the unraveling up close, the memory of Pantani remains a poignant reminder of the human cost exacted by elite sport.
A New Chapter with Lidl-Trek
Decades after the peaks and valleys of the Pantani era, Lluna remains an active and vital presence inside the modern cycling paddock. Now operating under the umbrella of Lidl-Trek—one of the premier squads on the UCI WorldTour circuit—he applies his decades of institutional knowledge to a new generation of cyclists.
Riders at Lidl-Trek benefit from Lluna’s institutional memory, learning indirectly from a man who stood in the crosswinds of professional cycling’s most turbulent epoch. As the team prepares for the upcoming classics season and grand tour campaigns, veteran staffers like Lluna provide an anchor of stability for younger athletes navigating the immense pressures of modern competition.
Worth a look
