Danilo Di Luca

See also: Luca

Danilo Di Luca , born the January 2nd 1976 with Spoltore, is a Italian racing cyclist. He gained the Giro 2007 after having gained Liege-Bastogne-Liege in spring. He gained the classification of the Pro-Turn in 2005.

Biography

Born with Spoltore, Danilo Di Luca tardily begins cycling, around 15 years. Its first race amateur shows a victory. In 1998 at 22 years, it gains the Baby Giro (Turn of Italy amateur) as well as the championship of Italy hopes within the Riso-Scotti team.

The following year, it passes to the professionals while signing at Cantino Tollo. As of its beginnings it is classified second of the Tour of Lombardy. In 2000, it takes part in its first Giro and gains a stage, after two weeks of races it will have been distinguished by holding head with best climbing but at the time of the third week it will be more in retreat. In 2001, it again gains a stage over Giro, this time in mountain but decreased by a disease, it will not be able to fight for the final classification. The same year, it gains the Turn of Lombardy preceding Giuliano Figueras.

This same year 2001, it will be worried by Blitz of Giro (business concerning the discovery of products prohibited in the hotels of certain teams), but this will n´aura any consequence on its career

From 2002, Di Luca specializes in the different traditional ones from spring. It will sign many certificates of merit without really carrying out the career which was promised to him. In 2005, c´est finally l´explosion. It s´impose back-to-back on the Tour of the Pays Basque, the Amstel Gold Race and the Walloon Flèche, which will enable him to endorse the shirt of leader of the Pro-Turn. In confidence, it decides to take part in Giro (which was not envisaged in its program at the beginning), it will carry out its best performances there on this test by gaining two stages there, while carrying the pink shirt and in are classified finally fourth of general classification. Its year more than will be successful, because of its regularity throughout the year it preserves its shirt of leader and becomes the first winner of the history of the Pro-Turn.

In 2006, extremely of its successful year 2005, it centers its preparation on Giro which it will finish only 23e, it will be caught up with by gaining a stage of mountain over the Vuelta and while carrying the shirt of Oro (shirt of leader of Vuelta).

In 2007, after a beginning of year succeeded by gaining Milan-Turin and Liege-Bastogne-Liege, it belongs to the outsiders for Giro or it will impress in high mountain, gaining l´épreuve in front of Luxemburgish Andy Schleck and l´italien Eddy Mazzoleni.

Since 2004, Danilo Di Luca is the subject of an investigation in the business of doping known as " Oil for Drugs". Phone-tappings of discussions with Dr. Santuccione, like Eddy Mazzoleni, led to its non-participation with the Tour de France 2004. This business knew a new topicality in 2007: after civil justice had classified its file without continuation, the runner is condemned by the Italian Olympic committee (CONI) to three months of suspensions on September 16th. It is thus deprived of participation in the Tour of Lombardy and especially of its points to the ProTour 2007, and thus yields the white shirt of leader to Cadel Evans. Mid-November 2007 Danilo Di Luca signs a contract for 2008 with team LPR.

Principal victories

Prize list

  • 2001
    • Turn of Lombardy
    • 1st stage of the Turn of Italy
    • 1st stage of the Catalan Week
    • 2nd of the Catalan Week
    • 2nd of the Turn of Venezia
    • 3rd of the Grand Prix of Larciano

  • 2002
    • Trophé Laigueglia
    • Turn of Venezia
    • Grand Prix Fred Mengoni
    • 1st stage of the Turn of Spain
    • 2 stages of Tirreno-Adriatico
    • 1st stage of the Turn of Valence
    • 2nd of Tirreno - Adriatico
    • 2nd of the Three Valleys varésines
    • 6th of the Clasica San Sebastian
    • 9th of HEW Cyclassics

  • 2003
    • Coppa Placci
    • Three Valleys Varésines
    • Turn of Ligurie
    • 1st stage of Tirreno - Adriatico
    • 1st stage of the Turn of Ligurie
    • 2nd of Tirreno-Adriatico
    • 2nd of the Grand Prix of Camaiore
    • 3rd of the Amstel Gold Race
    • 3rd of the Clasica San Sebastian
    • 8th of Liege-Bastogne-Liege

  • 2004
    • final Classification of Brixia Turn
    • Trophy Matteotti
    • 1st stage of the Turn of Murcie
    • 2nd of the Walloon Arrow
    • 2nd of the Grand Prix of Camaiore
    • 2nd of the Three Valleys varésines
    • 4th of Amstel Gold Race
    • 5th of the Championship of Italy

Large Turns

Tour de France

  • 2003 : Abandonment.
  • 2006 : Abandonment.

Turn of Italy

  • 1999 : Abandonment.
  • 2000 : Abandonment, victorious of the 5th stage (Peschici).
  • 2001 : 24e of the general, victorious of the 4th stage (Montevergine).
  • 2005 : 4th of the general, victorious of 3rd and 5th stages (Giffoni Valle Piana and Aquila), carrying the pink shirt during five days.
  • 2006 : 23e of the general.
  • 2007 : Winner of the Giro. Winner of the against-the-watch by teams with Liquigas, of the 4th stage with Montevergine, the 12th stage with Briançon, carrying the pink shirt during twelve days.

Turn of Spain

  • 2002 : 20th of the general, victorious of the 2nd stage.
  • 2004 : abandonment (19th stage)
  • 2006: Abandonment, victorious of the 5th stage, shirt gold during 2 days.

Notes and references of the article

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