Vai Dani - Liquigas gives it gas!

Danilo Di Luca and his Liquigas-Bianchi team turned today's stage upside down, leading a charge that began 30 kilometres from the finish line, before this year's winner of Amstel Gold and Flèche Wallonne finished things off in the best-possible style. Now just nine seconds away from a taste of the maglia rosa, 29 year-old Di Luca is surely thinking pink, and with four stages to go before Sunday's crucial TT in Florence, the rejuvenated rider is an odds-on favourite as the next leader of the 2005 Giro d'Italia.

"I have to thank the whole team and especially Brontolo," said an esctatic Di Luca, the nickname of 'Brontolo' in reference to his team-mate Andrea Noé. "I completed an extraordinary team effort that was all Celeste-green the last 15 kilometres of the race. Now I would like to win again, maybe near my home, in L'Aquila, and also aim at taking the maglia rosa."

Thank you for reading 5 articles in the past 30 days*

Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read any 5 articles for free in each 30-day period, this automatically resets

After your trial you will be billed £4.99 $7.99 €5.99 per month, cancel anytime. Or sign up for one year for just £49 $79 €59

Join now for unlimited access

Try your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Latest on Cyclingnews