Di Luca to sing in San Remo

Danilo Di Luca, the Pro Tour's leading rider in 2005, is set to hit the recording studio. The Italian rider will join countrymen Jarno Trulli and Alex Zanardi (racing car drivers), European volleyball champion Alberto Cisolla and rugby player Denis Dallan.

The quintet have recorded the song "Apri il cielo" - Open the Sky. Proceeds from the sale of the single will go to charity next year thanks to the generosity of Elisabetta Mondini, who has written the text of the song. "I was so lucky to co-operate with Marco Pantani," said Mondini. "I had written the song "E adesso pedala" - Get on the Bike - that Marco Pantani performed with great success. We decided to gather a group of athletes again in his memory as well. Why did we choose Di Luca? Because he raced a magic season; because he has an attractive character which makes him popular. And also because he is fond of music."

In fact, Di Luca has played the drums since he was a child. "I like music very much and spending a day in a recording studio was great. According to the technicians, our performance was good: now we are looking forward to singing "Apri il cielo" on stage," the Liquigas-Bianchi rider said. According to Mondini, they may sing during the next Festival of San Remo, even if they're not competing.

"That's great!" said Di Luca. "In 2006 I'm going to focus on the Giro d'Italia. So, I won't be able to be one of the favourite riders for winning Milan-San Remo, but I may be a star in the Città dei Fiori - the town of flowers - even without the bicycle."