Pierfelici takes over Coppi e Bartali

Luca Pierfelici is a name that is not known by many but that is now changing. The 23 year-old Italian from Bottega di Colbordolo (Le Marche) stepped onto the top step of the Coppi e Bartali podium yesterday to claim the leader's jersey thanks to a solid first day and then finishing 19th, at 38", in stage two.

"It is really my first season as a pro because last year I fractured my scaphoid in Dunkerque, it is like I never raced," said the Aurum Hotels rider to La Gazzetta dello Sport after stage two. He turned professional with Naturino-Sapore di Mare, riding as a stagiaire in 2005.

He is keeping calm and taking the race day by day, knowing it will be very hard to maintain the lead with the likes of Riccardo Riccò and Michele Scarponi breathing down his neck. "I am living for the day. ... I have always reasoned with my heart. And from when I was six years-old, my heart led me to the bicycle." He philosophically added, "I am discovering a new world, in which there is also myself."

Pierfelici only lives one kilometre away from Tavullia, home of the famous MotoGP pilot. "Valentino Rossi? Every once in a while we cross paths. ... I know who he is but I don't think he knows about me."