Time trial today. Di Luca did well today and gained time on his rivals. As an aside Riis had a press conference today where he admitted injecting EPO into himself and purchasing it himself between 1993 and 1998. He said he is not proud of what he did but he is no stribving to win clean with CSC. I donāt believe that CSC are clean.
I see Erik Zabel (Tour de France green jersey winner at least twice I think) admitted to taking drugs with T Mobile and so did 2 other T Mobile riders. T Mobile are now considering pulling out of cycling.
Not surprised by Riis and impossible to believe him now.
I really hope they donāt. Iāve always liked them and am very confident that they have a clean team now. They carry out testing on their own riders and have made a concerted effort to clean up their act. Having said that their sporting director yesterday admitted his involvement in doping during the 1990ās.
Great stuff from Di Luca. Heās looking superb at the moment. Told you he was in good form but would you listen? 
It would be nice if Roche and Kelly followed the trend and clarified their own histories.
Would be nice. Di Luca tested positive a few years ago didnāt he. They mentioned it on that CSC dvd.
Monte Zoncolan one of if not the hardest climb in cycling awaits the riders at the end of tomorrows stage. It is only 10.1km long yet gains 1203 metres. The toughest part of the climb has a grade of 22% which is unbelievably tough. Simoni won here last time this beast was part of the Giro. It should be a great days racing. Everything could change at the end of tomorrows stage. The following is an interview with Di Luca from the rest day yesterday where he reveals he will not race in Le Tour this year. Some interesting comments from him regarding ear pieces and doping too.
An interview with Danilo Di Luca, May 29, 2007
No ear piece required
During the second rest day of the Giro dāItalia, in the Dolomite town of Agordo, maglia rosa Danilo Di Luca revealed an unusual fact that he never uses a radio while racing, and never has done. Cyclingnewsā Jean-Franois Qunet spoke with the Italian about this peculiar trait, the rising stars of Italian cycling and why the Tour de France just doesnāt appeal to him.
Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas)
Photo : Sirotti
āItās not that I refuse it,ā said Di Luca, referring to his lack of an ear piece which many riders in the modern peloton cannot function without. āBut after a little while it gives me troubles in my head. In fact, Iāve had to use my mind instead of just listening to the instructions given by the director. Iām convinced it has helped me improve to the level where I am now. I know what I have to do.ā
Two-time Giro champion Gilberto Simoni admitted Di Lucaās tactical astuteness was a major factor in his success this year. āI wouldnāt say that Di Luca is the revelation of this Giro,ā Simoni commented during the rest day. āBut heās up there every day, thatās the difference. I can see that his way of racing isnāt the same. He thinks more.ā
In the crucial mountain stages, the ākillerā has controlled the race with a rare tactical intelligence. That might add to the ongoing debate in cycling regarding the use of ear pieces which many observers claim have ruined the excitement of races. The UCI has long been considering the possibility of banning radios among riders, a decision which may re-ignite interest in races where cycling doesnāt enjoy such a passionate following as the Giro dāItalia.
āWhen I came to Giro, the newspapers werenāt talking about cycling at allā, remembered Di Luca, hinting at the ongoing doping sagas reported in the cycling press. āI was hoping that it would change and it has changed. Now the media focus on the race.ā
āMaybe in two years time Iāll go for it because itās the biggest race in the world, not because it appeals to me.ā
-Di Luca says he holds no real affection for the Tour de France.
There are still some references to doping stories, of course. Mondayās Il Giornale recalled that Eddy Mazzoleni, currently sitting second overall in the Giro, is involved in two investigations regarding performance enhancing drugs, one in Roma, another one in Bergamo. The investigations relate to phone conversations in which he allegedly mentioned a special form of EPO that he tried to import from the US via England or Spain, not directly to Italy because it would include too many risks.
Another Italian newspaper Il Corriere della Sera reported that Mazzoleni went to Tenerife for a training camp organised by his preparatore, the all too famous Dr Michele Ferrari, two months before the Giro.
āSince 2005, cycling has changed a lot,ā Di Luca argued. āYou can see that riders really suffer. Races are won by margins of seconds, not minutes anymore. Ivan Basso was the exception at last yearās Giro, but now everybody understands why.ā
Climbing the mythical Tre Cime Di Lavaredo
Photo : Sirotti
Di Luca is close to winning his first Giro after a serious improvement compared to his previous attempts. āLast yearās Giro, letās forget about it,ā he said. "I had no condition. Between 29 and 31 years old, Iāve changed a lot. Two years ago, I only targeted the Classics and I continued with riding the Tour of Italy. I finished fourth and it gave me the idea to work precisely for the overall win. Now I know how to obtain that goal.
āI will improve again,ā he warned, hinting at the prospect of returning to the Giro as defending champion next year. However, the Liquigas rider revealed he would not take part in the Tour de France for at least the next two editions, perhaps remembering ASOās decision to deny him a start in the 2004 edition due to his implication in the āOils for Drugsā investigation from which he has since been cleared.
āI donāt like the route nor the atmosphere of the Tour de France,ā he explained. āMaybe in two years time Iāll go for it because itās the biggest race in the world, not because it appeals to me. Weāll speak about it with the team.ā
On the subject of his Liquigas team, where his contract comes to an end this year, Di Luca indicated that heād prefer to remain with the Italian squad and doesnāt envy Saunier Duval with their group of climbing stars. āItās logical that some teams are interested in me but Iād like to continue with Liquigas, I feel good here,ā he said. āIām not afraid of Saunier Duval. Iām afraid of Simoni himself, Iām also afraid of Mazzoleni in time trial.ā
Well protected
Photo : Sirotti
Heās obviously not afraid of Damiano Cunego. āBut Iām positively surprised by him since the beginning of the Giro,ā said Di Luca. "He makes a lot of efforts and heās always there, he never gives up. Maybe he has lost some of his climbing abilities because he has worked on gaining time trial abilities but I donāt think he goes less well than when he won in 2004. He was very young and heās still young. Heās six years younger than me. When my generation will go, heāll win a few more Giros and also the Tour de France, I think.
On the current crop of young stars, Di Luca cited young Luxemburger Andy Schleck from Team CSC as the biggest revelation of this yearās race āI had heard that heād become an even better rider than his brother and I didnāt believe it because Frnk is already a great champion. But itās true; Andy can win big stage races.ā
Di Luca also had good words to say about his young team-mate Vincenzo Nibali who does a great job for him these days but he doesnāt think that Italyās new sensation Riccardo Ricco will win the Giro next year. āHe needs to gain experience. Iād rather think heāll win the Giro in four or five years time. Iām also impressed by Thomas Dekker. Heās really above the others in time trials. Therefore I think the Tour de France should be good for him while Ricco is more adapted to the Giro because of his explosivity in the hills.ā
Di Luca knows Riccoās current situation all too well after being under the spotlights himself from an early age. āAt his age I won the Tour of Lombardy, people said the same about me.ā Di Luca said, suggesting that if Ricco learns from his own mistakes, as he did himself, heāll become an established champion as well.
Maybe Ricco should refuse to use ear pieces as wellā¦
Good interview Piper - I didnāt know he was cleared of those drugs allegations. He has ridden this race superbly so far and I think he is benefiting from making his own mind up on the hills instead of blindly following team examples. Take Sundayās stage for example, he allowed gaps to develop and he was patient because he knew himself what strength he had in his legs. So he waited and waited and then took time from Simoni at the end of the last climb when he knew he was feeling stronger. The team radio would probably have told him to go off chasing way before then.
Should be a brilliant stage today - any news on Eurosportās coverage?
Howās Gianni Bugno doing these days?
I think heās knocking on the door of a major tour victory Bandage.
If youāve nothing better to do today you should watch the Giro. That last climb is by all accounts the toughest in cycling and it will make great viewing.
I reckon live coverage will be on today from between2-3 and the end of the stage. Iād echo Rockās comments. Should be great viewing.
I plan on watching it today as Iām working from home for most of this week.
I used to love watching the climbs as a kid but my interest died when Pantani did. I was a great fan of his.
Still waiting on Eurosport to start coverage!
Iād appreciate if anyone with access to a TV can post when coverage starts as I plan to head to the pub when it starts. It is on Eurosport Uk sky channel 410.
3pm according to this piper:
Thanks Bandage. They are notoriously woeful with their scheduling though.
It is on now so I am off.
15km left today. Iban Mayo is 50 seconds out in front of Rasmussen. They are two contenders for the stage by the looks of it.
didi you back either of them pied?
yeah i had 20 on rasmussen to win. mayo was victorious though.