29 April 2007
And the results...
Di Luca strikes again
Italian Posts Warning to Giro Rivals
He’s been known as The Killer for quite some time and Danilo Di Luca gave a reminder of just how fitting that name is when he mercilessly disposed of CSC’s Frank Schleck to win today’s Liège-Bastogne-Liège classic.
The Italian Liquigas rider went clear with Schleck inside the final four kilometres of the race and looked to be under more pressure as they raced hard to hold off a large chasing group of favourites.
However, once under the red kite Di Luca shifted to assassin mode, unleashing a blistering attack and using his explosiveness to tear clear. Spaniard Alejandro Valverde jumped from the main bunch and got past a fading Schleck, but was unable to overhaul the 2005 ProTour winner before the line.
Di Luca hit the line comfortably ahead, taking his first victory in La Doyenne. Valverde and Schleck were next home, while world champion Paolo Bettini outsprinted Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) and Michael Boogerd (Rabobank) to make it three Italians in the top five.
Italian Posts Warning to Giro Rivals
He’s been known as The Killer for quite some time and Danilo Di Luca gave a reminder of just how fitting that name is when he mercilessly disposed of CSC’s Frank Schleck to win today’s Liège-Bastogne-Liège classic.
The Italian Liquigas rider went clear with Schleck inside the final four kilometres of the race and looked to be under more pressure as they raced hard to hold off a large chasing group of favourites.
However, once under the red kite Di Luca shifted to assassin mode, unleashing a blistering attack and using his explosiveness to tear clear. Spaniard Alejandro Valverde jumped from the main bunch and got past a fading Schleck, but was unable to overhaul the 2005 ProTour winner before the line.
Di Luca hit the line comfortably ahead, taking his first victory in La Doyenne. Valverde and Schleck were next home, while world champion Paolo Bettini outsprinted Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) and Michael Boogerd (Rabobank) to make it three Italians in the top five.
# posted by Ollie Jones @ 16:00 
