The Giro’s pink and Liquigas’ green – that’s the gaudy colour combination that characterises this first week of the Giro d’Italia. “The Killer”, Danilo Di Luca’s strong sprint took him to Giro success again in yesterday’s Stage 4, finishing at Montevergine di Mercogliano.
Di Luca won ahead of Riccardo Ricco and Damiano Cunego, and reclaimed the maglia rosa from his teammate Enrico Gasparotto, who crashed hard with 70km to go but toughed it out to the finish.
Di Luca had previously won at Montevergine in the 2001 Giro, and used the occasion to take a few more seconds away from rivals Savoldelli, Popovych and Simoni.
The general classification is still in the grip of the “Green Machine”, as the next three places remain teammates of Danilo Di Luca – Pellizotti at 26 seconds, Noè and Nibali at 35 seconds.
“For sure it’s a great result but we’re still a long way from Milan. The team worked so hard today as always which allowed me to reach this goal. Now we will manage the race wisely, assuming our responsibility without spending everything to hold onto the jersey,” Danilo told the press after the finish.
Today’s win brings Team Liquigas’ season total to 16, while Danilo Di Luca scores his 42nd win.
By the way, Di Luca had the fastest “white bike” of the day, as both Ricco and Cunego have also fixed upon this latest fashion trend.
Danilo has always loved white bikes, and is riding and winning aboard the special beauty pictured here.
