• Tools:
• Save |
• Print |
• E-mail |
• Most Popular |

Di Luca claims stage to lead Giro

Adjust font size:

MONTERVERGINE DI MERCOGLIANO, Italy -- Italy's Danilo Di Luca retook the overall race lead with victory on the fourth stage of the Giro d'Italia on Wednesday.

The Liquigas rider beat compatriots Riccardo Ricco and Damiano Cunego in a sprint finish in the 154km stage from Salerno to Montevergine di Mercogliano.

He was carefully guided by his team- mates on the slopes of the 17km climb before accelerating in the final meters.

Di Luca was in the crash caused by wet roads that involved more than 50 riders mid-way through the stage but was happy with his win and the performance of his team.

"It was a great stage for us," Di Luca said. "I have to thank my team-mates because I only had do the last 200 meters. They rode perfectly and protected me until I sprinted to the line. This wins is all thanks to them."

Di Luca pulled on the race leader's pink jersey -- which he had previously worn after the second stage -- and now leads his team-mates Franco Pellizotti and Andrea Noe by 26 and 35 seconds in the overall standings.

The Liquigas team dominated the opening team time trial stage on Saturday and still hold the first four positions but Di Luca said he would soon surrender his lead to a rider who is not an overall favorite so he can save his strength for the decisive final week of the Giro in the mountains.

"I think this is the strongest I've ever been in my career but it's hard work leading the Giro and if we tried to defend the pink jersey my team mates would be tired and I'd be on my own in the mountains when I need them most," Di Luca said.

"After winning the team time trial last Saturday we decided to hold on to the race lead until today's uphill finish but now there isn't another decisive stage for eight days, so from tomorrow our tactics are going to change."

Di Luca's decision to abdicate the race lead means other riders will go on the attack to try and take the lead during Thursday's 173km fifth stage from Teano to Frascati.

The route through central Italy includes a short climb near the finish but suits sprinters Robbie McEwen and Alessandro Petacchi who won stages two and three.

Get up-to-the minute news from CNN CNN.com gives you the latest stories and video from the around the world, with in-depth coverage of U.S. news, politics, entertainment, health, crime, tech and more.

---

• Knox found guilty of murder
• Fatal blast at Russian nightclub
• Star-studded cast comes together in 'Nine'
• The evidence against Amanda Knox
• Hosts South Africa drawn against France

• Irish PM to quit over payments scandal
• NATO chief: Afghan troop increase likely
• Militants hunted as calm retuns to Basra
• Pressure on Bush to skip Olympics
• BA sending misplaced T5 baggage to Milan

• Recruiting suicide bombers (2:50)
• London was lucky (2:36)
• Cars in London rigged as bombs (3:48)
• Second explosives-packed car foun (2:32)
• Soviet culture returns (3:47)