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Danilo Di Luca

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Danilo Di Luca
Di Luca in 2005
Personal information
Full nameDanilo Di Luca
NicknameThe Killer from Spoltore
Born (1976-01-02) 2 January 1976 (age 48)
Spoltore, Italy
Height1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)
Weight61 kg (134 lb)
Team information
Current teamSuspended
DisciplineRoad
RoleRider
Rider typeClimber/Puncheur
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
Vuelta a España
2 individual stages

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)
Tre Valli Varesine (2003)
Milano–Torino (2007)
Giro dell'Emilia (2008)

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]

Career achievements

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Major results

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1999
1st 1 stage Giro d'Abruzzo
2nd Giro di Lombardia
2000
1st GP Industria & Artigianato di Larciano
1st Trofeo Pantalica
1st 1 stage Giro d'Italia
1st 2 stages Giro d'Abruzzo
2nd Overall Tour of the Basque Country
1st 1 stage
2001
1st Giro di Lombardia
1st 1 stage, Giro d'Italia
2nd 1 stage, Setmana Catalana de Ciclisme
1st Overall Giro d'Abruzzo
1st 1 stage
2002
1st Giro del Veneto
1st GP Fred Mengoni
1st Trofeo Laigueglia
2nd Overall Tirreno–Adriatico
1st 2 stages
1st 1 stage Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana
1st 1 stage Vuelta a España
2003
1st Coppa Placci
1st Tre Valli Varesine
1st 1 stage, Tirreno–Adriatico
1st Overall Tour de Ligure
1st 1 stage
3rd Amstel Gold Race
2004
1st Trofeo Matteoti
1st Brixia Tour
1st Stage 4 Vuelta a Murcia
2nd La Flèche Wallonne
4th Amstel Gold Race
2005
1st UCI ProTour
1st Overall Tour of the Basque Country
1st Stage 1
1st Amstel Gold Race
1st La Flèche Wallonne
4th Overall Giro d'Italia
1st Stages 3 & 5
4th Züri–Metzgete
5th Overall Tour de Pologne
2006
1st Stage 5 Vuelta a España
6th La Flèche Wallonne
9th Liège–Bastogne–Liège
9th Züri–Metzgete
2007
1st Overall Giro d'Italia
1st Stages 4 & 12
1st Liège–Bastogne–Liège
1st Milano–Torino
1st Stage 3 Settimana Internazionale di Coppi e Bartali
3rd Amstel Gold Race
3rd La Flèche Wallonne
2008
1st Overall Settimana Ciclistica Lombarda
1st Stage 4
1st Giro dell'Emilia
1st Mountains classification Tour of Britain
8th Overall Giro d'Italia
2009
1st Stage 4 Giro del Trentino
1st Stage 1 (TTT) Settimana Ciclista Lombarda
2nd Overall Giro d'Italia
1st Points classification
1st Stages 4 & 10
2012
1st Gran Premio Nobili Rubinetterie
4th Overall Tour of Austria
1st Stage 2
2013
6th Giro di Toscana
10th GP Industria & Artigianato di Larciano

Grand Tour general classification results timeline

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Grand Tour 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Giro d'Italia DNF DNF 24 — — — 4 23 1 8 DSQ — 69 — DSQ
Tour de France — — — — DNF — — DNF — — — — — — —
Vuelta a España — DNF DNF 20 — DNF — DNF — — — — — — —

DNF=Did not finish DSQ=Disqualified

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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