Italy’s Marco Pantani was one of the most charismatic cyclists that has ever lived. And he always considered the Vuelta a Murcia a main race on his calendar.
His career went through many ups and downs. One of them was in 1995. During that year’s Milan Turin, he suffered an accident after a crash with a car. With an open fracture of tibia and femur and broken collarbone, he had to face a long recovery, and many doubted his performances after it.
It was at Murcia, in 1997, where he came back at his best. He felt like a cyclist again. Since then, his progression was spectacular, and returned to Murcia, his “home”, every year. He was specially interested in 1999's edition, as a Tour of France champion and world’s number one.
He announced his presence very early, in October 1998, knowing that, with it, he would help the organization of the race. And he would come to win it. He kept his word and won the Vuelta a Murcia after an excellent display of bravery and cyclism.
He never missed the race till his tragic death in 2004, aged 34.
That year, and for Carmen Guzman’s personal desire, the Trofeo Cima Marco Pantani was created, and it’s awarded to the cyclist who passes Collado Bermejo in first place. 
It is always placed there, where The Pirate wrote, maybe, one of cycling's most important pages.