Di Luca out to topple Menchov on Blockhaus
Denis Menchov seems set to wear the Giro d'Italia leader's jersey all the way to Rome, but Italy?s Danilo Di Luca is convinced he can topple the Russian on the Blockhaus climb on Wednesday and then to the up to the edge of the Mount Vesuvius volcano overlooking Naples on Friday.
Di Luca is only 39 seconds behind Menchov but knows he will lose some time in the final 14.4km time trial in Rome. So he has to attack and attack hard if he wants to swap his ciclamino points jersey for the maglia Rosa.
Di Luca wants to win on the Blockhaus because it overlooks his home near Pescara in the central Abruzzo region.
The little LPR rider has been raising money for the victims of the Abruzzo earthquake during the Giro and he also wants to put on a show for the thousands of people still living in tents or temporary accommodation after their homes were destroyed.
?Second place is pretty much stitched up and with my stage wins and time already spent in the pink jersey my Giro is already a success,? Di Luca told the Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper after Monte Petrano.
?I know I?ve got two mountain finishes to drop Menchov. It might seem impossible at the moment considering that?s he?s been the strongest so far, but cycling is strange, anyone can have a crisis??
?My problem is that Menchov is marking me man to man and didn?t manage to drop him with two violent attacks. Obviously, I?d race the same way if I was in his situation. All I can do is keep going at him.
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"I can only attack, attack and attack to try and get rid of him. I?m not convinced he?ll crack but I can hope that something happens. He?s been perfect so far but nothing last for ever.?
Bruyneel tips Menchov to win Giro>>
Giro d'Italia 2009 links |
Stage reports
Stage 16: Sastre wins stage to Monte Petrano
Stage 15: Bertagnolli gifted stage win by Cervelo mix-up
Stage 14: Gerrans solos to win
Stage 13: Cavendish takes his third Giro win and prepares to head home
Stage 12: Menchov storms to Giro TT win and race lead
Stage 11: Cavendish romps to second Giro stage win
Stage 10: Di Luca lays down the gauntlet
Giro rest day review (May 18)
Stage nine: Cavendish blitzes rivals to win in Milan
Stage eight: Siutsou makes it two in a row for Columbia-Highroad
Stage seven: Boasson Hagen takes treacherous stage
Stage six: Scarponi wins longest stage with big break
Stage five: Menchov wins mountain battle as Di Luca grabs the pink jersey
Stage four: Di Luca denies Soler on the line; Lovkvist takes pink jersey
Stage three: Cavendish loses pink jersey after being caught behind late crash
Stage two: Petacchi denies Cavendish the stage win
Stage one: Cavendish in pink as Columbia prove their point to Garmin
Photo galleries
News
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Millar climbs off and heads home from Giro
Basso discovers he has few friends at the Giro (stage 15)
Froome agonisingly close to stage victory (stage 14)
Cavendish quits the Giro d'Italia
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Cavendish: His most important Giro win yet (stage 13)
Comment: Lance vs the press, some things never change
Menchov's first pink jersey (Stage 12)
Wiggins: 'I went too hard at the start' (Stage 12 TT)
Lance and Levi: Ready for Giro time trial
Cavendish: 'Today brought back memories of San Remo' (stage 11)
Is Di Luca trying too hard, too soon?
Wiggins loses time in the Giro (stage 10)
Armstrong and Basso say sorry for Giro protest
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Cavendish says 'I'm addicted to winning'
Riders stage go-slow protest during Giro stage in Milan
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Astana riders wear faded kit in protest over unpaid wages
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Giro news round-up: 14 May
Wiggins: 'I can't keep smashing away on the climbs'
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Armstrong after Giro stage 5: 'That was hard'
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I'm wearing pink on behalf of the team, says Cavendish
Wiggins ready to win Giro team time trial
Friday, May 8: Giro news round-up
Cavendish out to topple Garmin in Giro team time trial
Team time trial start times
Cycling Weekly's Giro d'Italia top ten prediction
Brits in Venice for Giro presentation
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Wiggins in top form for Giro
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Armstrong's special Giro bikes unveiled
Daniel Lloyd overlooked for Giro ride
Cummings and Thomas not selected for Giro d'Italia
Cavendish tests Giro form at Tour of Romandie
David Millar confirms he's riding in 2009 Giro
Bennati to take on Cavendish in Giro 2009 sprints
2009 Giro d'Italia to start in Venice
Evans and Silence-Lotto disagree on Giro 2009 ride
Armstrong to ride 2009 Giro
Tuttosport reveals 2009 Giro d'Italia route
Dolce & Gabbana design new Giro jersey
2009 Giro d'Italia guide and features
Find the pink jersey competition
Giro d'Italia 2009: The Big Preview
British riders to have led the grand tours
CW's Giro top ten prediction
Brits in the Giro 2009
Brits in the Tours: From Robinson to Cavendish
CW Classic: the 1987 Giro d'Italia
2008 Giro d'Italia archive
Giro d'Italia 2008 coverage index - race reports, photos, results
From rule Britannia to cruel Britannia
Giro 2008: The final word on this year's race
Brits at the 2008 Giro: photo special
Five days to go, what's in store?
Giro d'Italia 2008: Rest day review (May 27)
Giro d'Italia 2008: Rest day review (May 19)
Giro d'Italia 2008 preview
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