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Danilo Di Luca

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Danilo Di Luca
Di Luca at the 2005 Tour de Pologne
Personal information
Full nameDanilo Di Luca
NicknameThe Killer from Spoltore
Born (1976-01-02) 2 January 1976 (age 49)
Spoltore, Italy
Height1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)
Weight61 kg (134 lb)
Team information
Current teamSuspended
DisciplineRoad
RoleRider
Rider typeAll rounder
Professional teams
1998Riso Scotti
1999–2001Cantina Tollo–Alexia Alluminio
2002–2004Saeco–Longoni Sport
2005–2007Liquigas–Bianchi
2008–2009LPR Brakes–Ballan
2011Team Katusha
2012Acqua & Sapone
2013Vini Fantini–Selle Italia
Major wins
Grand Tours
Giro d'Italia
General classification (2007)
6 individual stages (2000, 2001, 2005, 2007)
1 TTT stage (2007)
Vuelta a España
2 individual stages (2002, 2006)

Stage races

Tour of the Basque Country (2005)

One-day races and Classics

Giro di Lombardia (2001)
Liège–Bastogne–Liège (2007)
Amstel Gold Race (2005)
La Flèche Wallonne (2005)

Other

UCI ProTour (2005)

Danilo Di Luca (born 2 January 1976) is a former Italian professional road racing cyclist, best known for winning the 2007 Giro d'Italia, but also for several positive doping tests, the last of which resulting in a lifetime ban from the sport.

Di Luca is also one of six riders to have won each of the three Ardennes classics; he won the Amstel Gold Race and La Flèche Wallonne in 2005, and Liège–Bastogne–Liège in 2007. During his career, Di Luca rode for the Riso Scotti, Cantina Tollo–Acqua & Sapone, Saeco, Liquigas, LPR Brakes–Farnese Vini, Team Katusha, Acqua & Sapone and Vini Fantini–Selle Italia squads.[1][2][3]

Di Luca's career was also dogged by numerous infractions, involving three suspensions in relation to doping. In 2007, Di Luca was suspended for three months towards the end of the season, for visiting previously banned doctor Carlo Santuccione, which later escalated into the Oil for Drugs case.[4] In 2009, at the Giro d'Italia, Di Luca tested positive on two occasions[5] for CERA,[6] and was given a backdated – to July 2009 – two-year ban in February 2010, which was later reduced to nine months.[7][8] His third positive test came just before the 2013 Giro d'Italia, when he tested positive for erythropoietin (EPO) in an out-of-competition test.[9] Di Luca expressed surprise at the test results,[10] but he was given a lifetime ban in December 2013.[11]

Danilo Di Luca wrote his autobiography Bestie da Vittoria, which means "Beasts for victories". Such book is also a denunciation of the use of doping substances among cyclists and the use of anti-doping controls as a way to manipulate competition results.

Career

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Early years

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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."[12][13]

2005

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Di Luca at the 2005 Giro d'Italia

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

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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

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Di Luca at the 2007 Giro d'Italia

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.[14] On 28 September, Di Luca withdrew from the UCI road championship calling his treatment "a scandal" after doping allegations.[15]

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.[4]

2008–2009

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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.[16] 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.[6][17] He had been targeted for testing using information from his biological passport's blood profile, previous test results and his race schedule.[18] On 8 August, his positive tests were confirmed. On 1 February 2010, the Italian Olympic committee (CONI) suspended him for two years (effective as of 22 July 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.[7]

2010–2011

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Di Luca at the 2011 Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal

On 15 October 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,[8] but the UCI contends that he will still have to pay the full amount based on when his doping incident occurred.[19] His results from the 2009 Giro were stricken from the record.[20]

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.[21]

After the season, Di Luca signed a contract for the 2012 season with Acqua & Sapone.[2]

2013

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In April 2013, Di Luca signed for the Vini Fantini–Selle Italia team, who were subsequently awarded a wildcard place to race in the Giro d'Italia. On 24 May, while Di Luca was riding in the Giro, the UCI announced that he had had an adverse finding in an out-of-competition doping test at his home on 29 April. Di Luca was fired by his team who instructed him to leave the race by his own means.[22] He was banned for life by CONI on 5 December. He also had his results stripped from 29 April and ordered to pay €37,985 in fines and costs.[11][23][24]

Major results

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1994
1st Overall Giro della Lunigiana
1997
6th Road race, UCI Road World Under-23 Championships
1998
1st Road race, National Under-23 Road Championships
1st Overall Giro Ciclistico d'Italia
1st Stage 5b (ITT)
1st Overall Giro della Regione Friuli Venezia Giulia
1st Stage 4b (ITT)
3rd Road race, UCI Road World Under-23 Championships
1999
2nd Giro di Lombardia
2nd GP Industria & Artigianato di Larciano
3rd Giro del Friuli
4th Giro del Veneto
5th Gran Premio Industria e Commercio di Prato
7th Coppa Placci
2000
1st GP Industria & Artigianato di Larciano
1st Trofeo Pantalica
1st Stage 5 Giro d'Italia
2nd Overall Tour of the Basque Country
1st Stage 2
6th Overall Memorial Cecchi Gori
2001
1st Giro di Lombardia
1st Trofeo dello Scalatore
Giro d'Italia
1st Stage 4
Held after Stages 4–7
2nd Overall Setmana Catalana de Ciclisme
1st Stage 4
2nd Giro del Veneto
3rd GP Industria & Artigianato di Larciano
9th Coppa Bernocchi
2002
1st Giro del Veneto
1st Trofeo Laigueglia
1st Gran Premio Fred Mengoni
Vuelta a España
1st Stage 2
Held after Stage 2
2nd Overall Tirreno–Adriatico
1st Stages 3 & 5
2nd Tre Valli Varesine
3rd Subida a Urkiola
5th Overall Tour Méditerranéen
6th Clásica de San Sebastián
7th Overall Vuelta a Murcia
9th Overall Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana
1st Stage 4
9th HEW Cyclassics
2003
1st Overall Giro della Liguria
1st Stage 3b (ITT)
1st Coppa Placci
1st Tre Valli Varesine
2nd Overall Tirreno–Adriatico
1st Stage 6
2nd Gran Premio Città di Camaiore
3rd Amstel Gold Race
3rd Clásica de San Sebastián
3rd Giro del Veneto
3rd Trofeo Melinda
4th Giro dell'Emilia
8th Liège–Bastogne–Liège
2004
1st Overall Brixia Tour
1st Trofeo Matteoti
1st Stage 4 Vuelta a Murcia
2nd La Flèche Wallonne
2nd Tre Valli Varesine
2nd Gran Premio Città di Camaiore
4th Amstel Gold Race
5th Road race, National Road Championships
5th Overall Uniqa Classic
2005
1st UCI ProTour
1st Overall Tour of the Basque Country
1st Points classification
1st Stage 1
1st Amstel Gold Race
1st La Flèche Wallonne
4th Overall Giro d'Italia
1st Stages 3 & 5
Held after Stages 5 & 7–10
Held after Stages 5, 7–9 & 14
4th Züri–Metzgete
4th Giro del Lazio
5th Overall Tour de Pologne
5th Milano–Torino
5th Gran Premio Fred Mengoni
2006
Vuelta a España
1st Stage 5
Held , & after Stages 5 & 6
2nd Giro dell'Emilia
3rd Road race, National Road Championships
6th La Flèche Wallonne
6th Gran Premio Fred Mengoni
6th Trofeo Città di Borgomanero (with Ruggero Marzoli)
9th Liège–Bastogne–Liège
9th Giro di Lombardia
9th Züri–Metzgete
2007
1st Overall Giro d'Italia
1st Stages 1 (TTT), 4 & 12
Held after Stages 4, 5 & 10–14
1st Liège–Bastogne–Liège
1st Milano–Torino
3rd Amstel Gold Race
3rd La Flèche Wallonne
3rd GP Ouest-France
8th Overall Tour de Pologne
10th Overall Settimana Internazionale di Coppi e Bartali
1st Stage 3
2008
1st Overall Settimana Ciclistica Lombarda
1st Stage 4
1st Giro dell'Emilia
1st Mountains classification Tour of Britain
2nd Giro d'Oro
3rd Giro del Lazio
3rd Memorial Cimurri
5th Gran Premio Nobili Rubinetterie
8th Overall Giro d'Italia
9th Coppa Bernocchi
2009
1st Stage 1 (TTT) Settimana Ciclista Lombarda
2nd Overall Giro d'Italia
1st Points classification
1st Stages 4 & 10
Held after Stages 5–11
Held after Stages 4–9
8th Overall Giro del Trentino
1st Stage 4
2011
7th Trofeo Inca
8th Trofeo Deià
10th Tre Valli Varesine
2012
1st Gran Premio Nobili Rubinetterie
2nd Road race, National Road Championships
2nd Circuito de Getxo
3rd Coppa Agostoni
3rd Tre Valli Varesine
4th Overall Tour of Austria
1st Stage 2
6th Gran Premio Città di Camaiore
10th Overall Settimana Internazionale di Coppi e Bartali
2013
6th Giro di Toscana
10th GP Industria & Artigianato di Larciano

Grand Tour general classification results timeline

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Grand Tour 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
A pink jersey Giro d'Italia — DNF DNF 24 — — — 4 23 1 8 2 — 69 — DNF
A yellow jersey Tour de France — — — — — DNF — — DNF — — — — — — —
A gold jersey/A red jersey Vuelta a España — — DNF DNF 20 — DNF — DNF — — — — — — —

Classics results timeline

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Monuments results timeline
Monument 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Milan–San Remo — 96 — 119 DNF 80 54 27 — — 58 41 — — 63 —
Tour of Flanders Did not contest during career
Paris–Roubaix
Liège–Bastogne–Liège — — — — 34 8 DNS 26 9 1 — — — 41 — —
Giro di Lombardia — 2 DNF 1 45 41 — DNF 9 — — — — — 20 —
Legend
— Did not compete
DNF Did not finish
DNS Did not start

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Di Luca Set To Ride For Free With One Year Katusha Deal". Cyclingnews.com. 10 January 2011. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Di Luca confirms Acqua & Sapone for 2012". Cycling News. 8 November 2011. Retrieved 3 January 2012.
  3. ^ "Di Luca signs with Vini Fantini-Selle Italia". Cycling News. 26 April 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
  4. ^ a b "Di Luca given doping suspension". BBC Sport. 17 October 2007. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
  5. ^ Susan Westemeyer (12 August 2009). "LPR Brakes Fires Di Luca Over Doping Charges". Cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  6. ^ a b Cyclingnews (22 July 2009). "Di Luca positive for CERA in Giro". Cycling News. Retrieved 22 July 2009.
  7. ^ a b "Di Luca given two-year suspension for Giro CERA doping". Cyclingnews.com. 1 February 2010. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
  8. ^ a b "Di Luca free to race after CONI reduce ban". Cyclingnews.com. 15 October 2010. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
  9. ^ Fotheringham, William (24 May 2013). "Danilo Di Luca faces lifetime ban after testing positive for EPO". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
  10. ^ "Di Luca "surprised" by positive test for EPO". Cyclingnews.com. 24 May 2013. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
  11. ^ a b "Danilo Di Luca banned from cycling for life after committing third doping offence". Sky Sports. BSkyB. 5 December 2013. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
  12. ^ "www.cyclingnews.com – the world centre of cycling". cyclingnews.com.
  13. ^ "www.cyclingnews.com – the world centre of cycling". cyclingnews.com.
  14. ^ "Bikes, Bike Reviews, Cycling Routes, Race News". BikeRadar. Archived from the original on 16 August 2007.
  15. ^ "www.cyclingnews.com – the world centre of cycling". cyclingnews.com.
  16. ^ "www.cyclingnews.com presents the 92nd Giro d'Italia". cyclingnews.com.
  17. ^ "Italian Di Luca fails doping test". BBC. 22 July 2009. Retrieved 22 July 2009.
  18. ^ "Di Luca positive for CERA in 2009 Giro d'Italia". Bike Radar. 22 July 2009. Archived from the original on 4 January 2014. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
  19. ^ "Di Luca Still Faces Fine Of Â'Ź280,000". Cyclingnews.com. 28 October 2010. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  20. ^ UCI – Sanctions, Period of ineligibily and disqualifications 2010 Archived 7 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  21. ^ "Danilo Di Luca principaux résultats". les-sports.info. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
  22. ^ "Danilo Di Luca: Giro d'Italia cyclist fails doping test". BBC News. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
  23. ^ "Cyclist Danilo Di Luca tests positive for EPO, risks life ban". US News. Associated Press. 24 May 2013. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
  24. ^ "Danilo Di Luca banned for life after EPO positive". VeloNews. 5 December 2013. Archived from the original on 9 December 2014. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
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