- Danilo Di Luca
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Danilo Di Luca
Danilo Di Luca in 2007Personal information Full name Danilo Di Luca Nickname The Killer from Spoltore Born January 2, 1976
Spoltore, ItalyHeight 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) Weight 61 kg (134 lb) Team information Current team Team Katusha Discipline Road Role Rider Rider type Climber/Classics Specialist Professional team(s) 1998
1999–2001
2002–2004
2005–2007
2008–2009
2011–Riso Scotti
Cantina Tollo-Alexia Alluminio
Saeco Macchine per Caffè-Longoni Sport
Liquigas-Bianchi
LPR Brakes-Ballan
Team KatushaMajor wins UCI ProTour (2005)
General classification 2007 Giro d'Italia (and 8 stages)
Vuelta a España, 2 stages
Amstel Gold Race (2005)
Giro di Lombardia (2001)
La Flèche Wallonne (2005)
Liège–Bastogne–Liège (2007)
Tour of the Basque Country (2005)Infobox last updated on
August 8th, 2009Danilo Di Luca (born January 2, 1976) is an Italian professional road racing cyclist who rode for numerous UCI Professional Continental teams troughout his career including Liquigas-Bianchi and LPR Brakes-Farnese Vini.[1][2] He holds victories in the Giro di Lombardia in 2001, the 2005 UCI ProTour and won both the Giro d'Italia and the spring classic Liège–Bastogne–Liège in 2007. He was also suspended following a positive doping test during the 2009 Giro d'Italia. In 2011, he rides with UCI ProTeam Team Katusha, for no salary.[3]
Contents
Early years
Born in Spoltore, province of Pescara, Di Luca began his professional career in 1998 in the Riso Scotti team. He showed talent by winning the under-23 version of the Giro D'Italia. His first pro win was in 1999, when, moving to Cantina Tollo-Alexia Alluminio, he won the first stage of the Giro d'Abruzzo. He remained in the team taking wins in 2001 such as the fourth stage of the Giro d'Italia and the Giro di Lombardia. Then, he transferred to Saeco-Longoni Sport.
During his time at Saeco-Longoni he lost the Vuelta al País Vasco on the last stage, a mountain time trial in which Andreas Klöden took the lead and the win. Combined with injuries and lack of confidence of the team directors, his performance suffered. In 2004 Italian officials investigated Di Luca for doping. Cyclingnews.com said: "Di Luca was recorded in several phone conversations with Eddy Mazzoleni in which he allegedly talked about doping products, the investigation led to Di Luca's non-participation in the 2004 Tour de France."[4][5]
2005
In 2005, Di Luca switched to Liquigas-Bianchi, with Mario Cipollini, Dario Cioni, Stefano Garzelli and Magnus Bäckstedt. He led the team for the spring classics. His first victory came in the first stage of the UCI ProTour race Vuelta al País Vasco, which he won overall after defeating Aitor Osa in the final time trial. He won the Amstel Gold Race and La Flèche Wallonne, taking the ProTour leader's white jersey.
Di Luca was seen as suited to races lasting only a few days. His success in the 2005 Giro d'Italia came as a surprise. Here he won two stages and finished fourth. He finished fifth in the Tour de Pologne. With a fourth in the 2005 Züri-Metzgete, he became 2005 UCI ProTour champion.
2006
Di Luca was forced to retire from the 2006 Tour de France, due to a urinary infection. He recovered to compete in the 2006 Vuelta a España, winning the fifth stage and holding the lead (ceding it to Janez Brajkovič). Di Luca's performances in the classics, the Giro, and other races, were a letdown from the triumphs of 2005.
2007
Di Luca won Milano–Torino in March and Liège–Bastogne–Liège in April. He took stages 4 and 12 en route to the victory in the 2007 Giro d'Italia. After the Giro, it was revealed that Di Luca had unspecified low hormone levels. Italian authorities are determining if they are a consequence of racing at a high level for three weeks or some kind of masking agent.[6] On September 28, Di Luca withdrew from the UCI road championship calling his treatment "a scandal" after doping allegations.[7]
Di Luca was leading the 2007 UCI ProTour when he was suspended before the final race, the Giro di Lombardia, due to alleged involvement in the Oil for Drugs case, for which he was suspended for three months through the close season.[8]
2008–2009
In 2008, Di Luca had a quiet year as his new team, LPR Brakes-Ballan, were not invited to many races. In 2009, they received a wildcard entry to the Giro d'Italia and Di Luca won the fourth stage.[9] He then came second on the fifth stage, gaining the pink jersey as race leader, and extended his lead by winning the tenth stage. He lost time on the two time trial stages and finished second overall, winning the points classification.
On 22 July 2009, it was announced that Di Luca had tested positive for CERA on 20 and 28 May 2009, during the Giro d'Italia. He was provisionally suspended with immediate effect by the UCI.[1][10] He had been targeted for testing using information from his biological passport's blood profile, previous test results and his race schedule.[11] On 8 August, his positive tests were confirmed. On February 1, 2010, the Italian Olympic committee (CONI) suspended him for two years (effective as of July 22, 2009) for the Giro doping incident. Di Luca must also pay a €280,000 fine, as well as the costs incurred in both the analysis and counter-analysis of his Giro samples: Di Luca indicated his intention to contest the decision.[12]
2010-2011
On October 15, 2010, CONI announced that Di Luca's ban had been reduced to nine months and seven days, allowing Di Luca to return as of that very day (though the season was nearly over). This was due to his reported cooperation with investigators, detailing doping methods. CONI also announced the reduction of Di Luca's fine, from €280,000 to €106,400,[13] but the UCI contends that he will still have to pay the full amount based on when his doping incident occurred.[14] His results from the 2009 Giro were stricken from the record.[15]
In the 2011 season, he competed for Team Katusha, and his performances were somewhat mitigated, since he held no victories. His notable results were fourth of the Giro d'Italia's 6th stage and fourth in the Tour de Suisse's first stage.[16]
Major achievements
- 1999 – Cantina Tollo-Alexia Alluminio
- 1st, 1 stage, Giro d’Abruzzo
- 2nd, Giro di Lombardia
- 2000 – Cantina Tollo
- 1st, GP Industria & Artigianato di Larciano
- 1st, Trofeo Pantalica
- 1st, 1 stage, Giro d'Italia
- 1st, 2 stages, Giro d’Abruzzo
- 2nd, Vuelta al País Vasco
- 1st, 1 stage
- 2001 – Cantina Tollo-Acqua & Sapone
- 1st, Giro di Lombardia
- 1st, 1 stage, Giro d'Italia
- 2nd, 1 stage, Setmana Catalana
- 1st, Giro d'Abruzzo
- 1st, 1 stage
- 2002 – Saeco
- 1st, Giro del Veneto
- 1st, GP Fred Mengoni
- 1st, Trofeo Laigueglia
- 2nd, Tirreno - Adriatico
- 1st, 2 stages
- 1st, 1 stage, Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana
- 1st, 1 stage, Vuelta a España
- 2003 – Saeco
- 1st, Coppa Placci
- 3rd, Amstel Gold Race
- 1st, Tre Valli Varesine
- 1st, 1 stage, Tirreno - Adriatico
- 1st, Tour de Ligure
- 1st, 1 stage
- 2004 – Saeco
- 1st, Trofeo Matteoti
- 1st, Brixia Tour
- 1st, Stage 4, Vuelta a Murcia
- 2nd, La Flèche Wallonne
- 4th, Amstel Gold Race
- 2005 – Liquigas-Bianchi
- Champion, UCI ProTour
- 1st, Amstel Gold Race
- 1st, La Flèche Wallonne
- 1st, Overall, Vuelta al País Vasco
- 1st, Stage 1
- 4th, Overall, Giro d'Italia
- Winner stages 3 and 5
- 4th, Züri-Metzgete
- 5th, Overall, Tour de Pologne
- 2006 – Liquigas
- 1st, Stage 5, Vuelta a España
- 6th, La Flèche Wallonne
- 9th, Liège–Bastogne–Liège
- 9th, Züri-Metzgete
- 2007 – Liquigas
- 1st, Milano–Torino
- 3rd, Amstel Gold Race
- 3rd, La Flèche Wallonne
- 1st, Liège–Bastogne–Liège
- 1st, Stage 3, Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali
- Giro d'Italia
- Winner overall classification
- 1st, Stage 4
- 1st, Stage 12
- 2008 – LPR Brakes-Ballan
- 1st, Stage 4 & Overall, Settimana Ciclistica Lombarda
- 1st, King of the Mountains, Tour of Britain
- 1st, Giro dell'Emilia
- 8th Overall, Giro'd Italia
- 2009 – LPR Brakes-Farnese Vini
- Settimana Ciclista Lombarda:
- 1st, Stage 1 Team Time Trial
- Giro del Trentino
- 1st, Stage 4
2nd, Overall Giro d'Italia(results revoked due to doping)Winner, Points classification1st, Stage 41st, Stage 10
See also
References
- ^ a b Cyclingnews (2009-07-22). "Di Luca positive for CERA in Giro". Cycling News. http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/di-luca-positive-for-cera-in-giro. Retrieved 2009-07-22.
- ^ http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/lpr-brakes-fires-di-luca-over-doping-charges
- ^ http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/di-luca-set-to-ride-for-free-with-one-year-katusha-deal
- ^ Cycling News article, June 28, 2007
- ^ www.cyclingnews.com - the world centre of cycling
- ^ CONI to question Petacchi, Di Luca and Mazzoleni
- ^ Di Luca withdraws from Worlds
- ^ "Di Luca given doping suspension". BBC Sport. 2007-10-17. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/cycling/6265648.stm. Retrieved 2008-03-18.
- ^ Di Luca still the cold-blooded killer
- ^ "Italian Di Luca fails doping test". BBC. 2009-07-22. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/cycling/8163587.stm. Retrieved 22 July 2009.
- ^ "Di Luca positive for CERA in 2009 Giro d'Italia". Bike Radar. 2009-07-22. http://www.bikeradar.com/road/news/article/di-luca-positive-for-cera-in-2009-giro-ditalia-22510.
- ^ Di Luca suspended for 2 years (http://velonews.competitor.com/2010/02/news/di-luca-suspended-for-2-years_103581)
- ^ http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/di-luca-free-to-race-after-coni-reduce-ban
- ^ http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/di-luca-still-faces-fine-of-eur280000
- ^ UCI - Sanctions, Period of ineligibily and disqualifications 2010
- ^ "Danilo Di Luca principaux résultats". les-sports.info. http://www.les-sports.info/cyclisme-di-luca-danilo-resultats-identite-s2-c2-b4-o2-w1756.html.
External links
- Official website
- Danilo Di Luca at Trap-Friis.dk
UCI Road World Cup, UCI ProTour and UCI World Tour winners UCI Road World Cup 1989 Sean Kelly · 1990 Gianni Bugno · 1991 Maurizio Fondriest · 1992 Olaf Ludwig · 1993 Maurizio Fondriest · 1994 Gianluca Bortolami · 1995 Johan Museeuw · 1996 Johan Museeuw · 1997 Michele Bartoli · 1998 Michele Bartoli · 1999 Andrei Tchmil · 2000 Erik Zabel · 2001 Erik Dekker · 2002 Paolo Bettini · 2003 Paolo Bettini · 2004 Paolo Bettini
UCI ProTour 2005 Danilo Di Luca · 2006 Alejandro Valverde · 2007 Cadel Evans · 2008 Alejandro Valverde
UCI World Tour 2009 Alberto Contador · 2010 Joaquim Rodríguez · 2011 Philippe Gilbert
Riders on Team Katusha Arkimedes Arguelyes | Pavel Brutt | Giampaolo Caruso | Danilo Di Luca | Denis Galimzyanov | Vladimir Gusev | Joan Horrach | Leif Hoste | Petr Ignatenko | Mikhail Ignatiev | Vladimir Isaichev | Sergei Ivanov | Vladimir Karpets | Alexandr Kolobnev | Aleksandr Kuschynski | Alberto Losada | Alexander Mironov | Daniel Moreno | Artem Ovechkin | Luca Paolini | Alexandre Pliuschin | Alexander Porsev | Filippo Pozzato | Joaquim Rodríguez | Egor Silin | Yuri Trofimov | Nikolay Trusov | Stijn Vandenbergh | Maxime Vantomme | Eduard Vorganov | Manager: Andrei Tchmil
Categories:- Italian cyclists
- Giro d'Italia winners
- Italian Giro d'Italia stage winners
- Italian Vuelta a España stage winners
- Doping cases in cycling
- People from the Province of Pescara
- 1976 births
- Living people
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