Di Luca in Giro mode after Liege triumph

0 Comments | AFP, April, 2007

LIEGE, Belgium (AFP) — Italian Danilo Di Luca was under no illusions about the significance of his achievement after winning the Liege-Bastogne-Liege one-day classic for the first time here Sunday.

"It's the hardest race in the world. It destroys you," said the Italian, who finished a few seconds ahead of Spanish ace Alejandro Valverde after nearly six and a half hours in the saddle.

Valverde, last year's winner, had made a brave attempt to catch Di Luca and Luxemburger Frank Schleck as the pair raced up the final of 12 climbs to the finish line of the 262km one-day classic, the oldest in existence.

The Spaniard passed Schleck in the final 600 metres, but once on the home straight he could only watch in despair as Di Luca came over the finish triumphantly....