Di Luca leads Italian Cup

Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas) leads the Italian Cup (or Coppa Italia) after the conclusion of the Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali. The Cup is designed to track the progress of Italian riders in Italian races.

The rider from Abruzzo scored earlier this year with his win in the Milano-Torino and then, last week, garnered his second season win by beating Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval-Prodir) in stage three of the Coppi e Bartali. Riccò, winner of two stages in Tirreno-Adriatico and a stage in Coppi e Bartali, is third overall and leads the young rider classification.

Michele Scarponi (Acqua & Sapone-Caffè Mokambo) has come back on the scene after having his 2006 season cut short due to Operación Puerto. The rider from Le Marche rode superbly through Coppi e Bartali, winning a stage and taking the final overall classification. The overall win was taken from the young hands of Luca Pierfelici. For his efforts in the stage race the Aurum Hotels rider moved up the Italian Cup's classification and now sits fifth overall (second in the young rider classification).