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7 February 2006

7 February News ...

Liquigas Presents The Killer

Last Saturday night (28 January) in Milano the 2006 Liquigas squadra was presented to the public. There was a cold snow storm outside the jazz bar Blue Note but inside there was a warm reception from the green Italian team.

Liquigas first formed as a squadra in 2005 and the man who made it such a spectacular season was The Killer. Danilo Di Luca finally lived up to what many were predicting for years and won a heap of races. His 2005 season included winning the ProTour title, the Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco, the Amstel Gold Race and La Flèche Wallonne, plus two Giro d'Italia stages and the Maglia Rosa.

2006 Giro d'Italia

"Now everyone in the team, and peloton, believes in me." - The Killer in Milano

For 2006 Di Luca has the full Liquigas backing to turn his fourth overall to a first in the Giro d'Italia. "Now everyone in the team, and peloton, believes in me. I am going to try to win the Giro even if it will be very mountainous in the final week," explained the Killer. "The Giro will be harder this year, there is no one stage that will decide the race, you have to be consistent the entire final week."

Di Luca will face some stiff competition if he wants to wear the final Maglia Rosa in Milano. "The favorites for the Giro are many and continue to grow. There is Simoni, who has already won the race twice, and Ivan Basso, who was super in the last Tour [de France] and could win the Giro," said Di Luca.

Toluca Training

The day after the presentation Di Luca left for Toluca (Mexico) with Garzelli, Zanini, Calcagni and Spezialetti. The crew will return 24 February after four weeks of training in the warmth and at altitude (2600m). Guiding the boys will be Mario Scirea, Team DS, who used the same area when he was preparing for the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

"I will save my strength for the Giro and not race the Classics for the win." - The Killer, Focused on the Giro

"I will make my season debut in Milano-Torino [4 March], then the Tirreno-Adriatico, Sanremo and Pais Vasco. I will race Flèche Wallonne and Liège, but not like last year," explained Di Luca. Di Luca confirmed that his energy will be saved for la Corsa Rosa: "Yes, I will save my strength for the Giro and not race the Classics for the win."

24 September: Salzburg

Instead of riding the entire season for the white ProTour jersey Di Luca has 24 September marked in his calendar. That is the date of the World Championship road race in Salzburg and The Killer wants the rainbow jersey. "It is far enough after the Giro d'Italia to recover, Garzelli will ride the Tour and I can focus on going to the Worlds in top form. It is a course that is made for my abilities."

Before returning to the cold Milano night we thanked Di Luca for his time, saying "In bocca al lupo." He responded with a "Grazie", a smile and a pat on the back.

Read:
2006 Liquigas Presentation Emits Italian Warmth, 28 January
The Killer's Nude (Bianchi FG Lite), 20 January
Di Luca for Mexico and Giro, 18 January
Fine Tuning of the TT Machine for Di Luca, 2 December
Liquigas Gathers in Terme, 25 November
Liquigas Winter Training, 17 November
Mexico and Training for Danilo Di Luca, 3 November
Danilo Di Luca Interview, 5 July

7 February News ...