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Di Luca crowned Giro champion; Petacchi takes No. 5
After 3442 kilometers and 21 grueling stages, Danilo Di Luca stood above all others atop the Milan podium Sunday, as overall winner of 90th Giro d'Italia.
The final stage, ending on Milan's Corso Venezia, proved to be a mere formality, not only for Diluca, but for Milram sprinter Alessandro Petacchi, whose fifth win of the race brings his total Giro victories to an even two dozen. With the Milram train doing its job to perfection, the rest of the field was left fighting for scraps, Maximiliano Richeze (Ceramica Panaria-Navigare) and Paolo Bettini (Quick Step-Innergetic) rounding out the day's podium.
"I haven't finished the Giro in two years," gasped Petacchi at the finish. "Last year, I was watching the last stage at home, on television. We didn't have many riders left by the finish, but with what we had, we made it a success."
Clearly, the 33-year-old is back to his best. Although for many, full confirmation of his return won't be complete until he shows equal success at the Tour de France - something he hasn't done since 2003, where he took four stages in its centenary year.
"I've lost a lot of energy in this Giro," said Petacchi, "and need to recover. I'm very thin - it's the first time I've finished the Giro so tired. But the Tour is in one month, and I believe I can still do a good Giro and Tour de France."
31 year-old Di Luca, who rolled across the line in 43rd place Sunday, achieved his victory with a cold, calculated effort, befitting his nickname, 'Il Killer di Spoltore' (The Killer from Spoltore). Second-placed overall, the precocious Andy Schleck (Team CSC), just 22 years old, was a worthy competitor, but in reality, never quite managed to place Di Luca in trouble. And Eddy Mazzoleni (Astana) was in many ways lucky to take third, finding himself there only after the penultimate day's time trial.
"Today was a great day for 185 kilometers," said Di Luca. "It was truly 'bellissima' riding along in the maglia rosa today, knowing I'd already won the Giro.”
Interestingly, the methodology behind his triumph was not dissimilar to seven-time Tour de France champion, Lance Armstrong.
Like Armstrong, Di Luca fired an early warning shot on the first mountain stage, winning atop Montevergine Di Mercogliano on Stage 4 and taking his first maglia rosa. Then, like Armstrong, he strategically chose to relinquish the lead for a week till the next major appointment in Briançon, which saw him re-take the maglia rosa on Stage 12.
And since that point, 10 days from the finish, Di Luca never looked back. Limiting his losses in the two individual time trials - sometimes even gaining - and riding within himself on the 31 categorized mountains that included five mountain-top finishes, he simply let the pure climbers do their thing; most importantly, he remained consistent.
Just like Armstrong.
Said Di Luca: "I'm a complete rider; I defended myself very well. I also defended myself on the way to Bergamo [Stage 14]. On the Zoncolan [Stage 17], it was a more serious matter, and [after holding the lead], it was the conclusion of my Giro."
Their personalities aren't dissimilar, either. Both are slightly introverted, but when there's something on their mind, they speak out, and call a spade a spade. Both were classics specialists first, before discovering they had qualities to become a rider for the grand tours. Though not just a rider - a winner.
However, for now, that's where the comparisons end. Throughout the last three weeks, Di Luca said he's not interested in that race around France, and won't bother riding La Grande Boucle for at least two more years.
"This is the greatest day of my life because this is the most important, greatest race in the world," Di Luca said with unequivocal honesty.
But after he was crowned champion on Sunday, his Tour de France tune has changed somewhat, albeit reluctantly.
"It's true that the Tour is really the most important," admitted Di Luca, "and one day I'll have to think about it, but the Giro has more charm. It is incomparable.
"Next year, my target will be the Giro, then we will see. My next objective is the world road championships, but right now, it is just about enjoying this Giro d'Italia," he said, as his tifosi (fans) tried to mob him.
A quiet Sunday stroll
The expected slow start out of Viale Marconi in Vestone was just that, with the 141 remaining riders setting out for their Sunday stroll a half-hour past midday.
Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Team CSC) and Daniele Contrini (Tinkoff Credit Systems) had a bit of a dig just four kilometers into the race, but it was a lighthearted one at that, with Contrini hailing from the nearby town of Gardone Val Trompia. Both landed back in the peloton after 30 kilometers, whose 28.2 kph average following two hours' racing, wasn't exactly setting the cycling world alight.
With nothing more than idle chatter in the peloton, more 'ciao's', kisses and well-wishes from various local lads took place en route to Milan. Maglia rosa Di Luca was sitting comfortably among his Liquigas coterie, with his handlebars subtly covered with pink tape, as did his team-mates, and the rear of his bike featuring pink highlights.
Entering Milano centro, where the race was to end after 10, 4.8 kilometer circuits, the Liquigas team showcased themselves for the first few laps, paying homage to their fearless leader. Once that was done, the sprinters' teams began upping the pace, to stymie any breakaway attempts.
In fact, it wasn't until five laps to go that the first real attack came, as Tinkoff's Mikhail Ignatiev, always the opportunist, launched himself on the finishing straight of the Corsa Venezia, 200 meters before the finish line banner.
Euskaltel-Euskadi's Markel Irizar went after the him, but unlike the Russian bullet-train, he didn't have the firepower to stay out in front, and was swallowed by the peloton. Ignatiev, despite his efforts, wasn't getting too far ahead - but for him, the main point was that he was away, and with three laps left, 20 seconds was his advantage.
However, with a hoard of sprinters salivating behind him, it was never going to be enough, and Ignatiev was caught inside 10 kilometers to go. As the bell rang to signal one lap to go, Liquigas led the bunch over the line, before Milram took over for their man Petacchi for what was tipped to be a certain victory.
In the final kilometers, Ceramica Panaria-Navigare and Predictor-Lotto tried to spoil the inevitable. But the Milram train was simply too good, and as Aussie Brett Lancaster came out of the final corner, he grimaced for one last time before peeling off with 300 meters to go - presenting a direct, unobstructed run to the line - Petacchi was never in doubt of finishing anything other than first.
A distant second was Richeze, with world champ Bettini third. However, despite the popularity of Petacchi, the biggest cheers were reserved for the man who finished 43rd. After racing 92 hours, 59 minutes, and 39 seconds, Danilo Di Luca had won the 2007 Giro d'Italia.
Results – Stage 21
1. Alessandro Petacchi (I), Milram, 5:18:54
2. Ariel Maximilian Richeze(ARG), Ceramica Panaria - Navigare, 0:00
3. Paolo Bettini (I), Quick Step-Innergetic, 0:00
4. Giuseppe Palumbo (I), Acqua & Sapone - Adria Mobil, 0:00
5. Stefano Zanini (I), Predictor-Lotto, 0:00
6. Lloyd Mondory (F), Ag2r Prevoyance, 0:00
7. Aliaksandr Usau (Blr), Ag2r Prevoyance, 0:00
8. Oscar Gatto (I), Gerolsteiner, 0:00
9. Thomas Fothen (G), Gerolsteiner, 0:00
10. Matti Breschel (Dk), CSC, 0:00
FullresultsFinal overall standings
1. Danilo Di Luca (I), Liquigas, 92:59:39
2. Andy Schleck (Lux), CSC, 1:55
3. Eddy Mazzoleni (I), Astana, 2:25
4. Gilberto Simoni (I), Saunier Duval, 3:15
5. Damiano Cunego (I), Lampre, 3:49
6. Riccardo Ricco' (I), Saunier Duval, 7:00
7. Evgeni Petrov (Rus), Tinkoff, 8:34
8. Marzio Bruseghin (I), Lampre, 10:14
9. Franco Pellizotti (I), Liquigas, 10:44
10. David Arroyo Duran (Sp), Caisse d'Epargne, 11:58
Overall: Danilo Di Luca (I), LiquigasPoints: Alessandro Petacchi (I), MilramKOM: Leonardo Piepoli (I), Saunier DuvalBest Young Rider: Andy Schleck (Lux), CSCTo see how today's stage developed, simply CLICK HERE to open our Live Update Window.
