3rd Giro Della Liguria - 2.3

Italy, February 19-22, 2003

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Stage 3b - February 21: Varazze-Alpicella del Beigua ITT, 10.2 km

Di Luca on top

Danilo Di Luca
Photo: © Sirotti

Saeco's Danilo Di Luca has time trialled his way the outright lead of the Giro della Liguria, winning the second half stage between Varazze and Alpicella del Beigua. In his first victory of the season, Di Luca averaged 29.7 km/h for the 10.2 km climb, beating Wladimir Belli (Lampre) by 14 seconds and race leader Giuseppe Palumbo (De Nardi) by 20 seconds. That gave Di Luca a 10 second buffer to Palumbo in the overall, with Belli moving into third place.

"A deciding win in such a demanding stage," said Di Luca. "The climb was very difficult and at times it was a little hard to breath. This is my first professional win against the clock, although it wasn't a parcours for the specialists."

"I am very satisfied with my condition: everything is going according to plan. I started a little bit more slowly this season, but I'm getting better day by day. I'm aiming to arrive in top condition for Tirreno-Adriatico."

Tomorrow is the fourth and final stage of the Giro della Liguria, and it's expected that Di Luca and his team should have little difficulty in defending the blue jersey. "It will be a fight to the finish," said Di Luca. "It's a difficult race, like the other stages. There are five tough climbs during the stage and it will be necessary to keep my eyes open and to give everything to take home the final victory."

Photography

Images by Fotoreporter Sirotti

Gilberto Simoni (Saeco) calmly time trials up the mountain in stage 3
Wladimir Belli (Lampre) finished second in the TT and moved into third overall
Raimondas Rumsas (Lampre) grits his teeth in his comeback race
De Nardi's Giusseppe Palumbo during the third stage time trial
Race leader Paolo Bossoni (Sidermec) rode well in the third stage time trial, but not quite well enough to keep the leader's jersey
Best Young Rider Yaroslav Popovych pushes himself during the third stage time trial
Danilo Di Luca (Saeco) during his winning ride
Saeco's Danilo Di Luca raises his arms on the podium after stage 3 of the Giro della Liguria
Saeco's Danilo Di Luca on the podium in the leader's jersey after stage 3 of the Giro della Liguria

Results

1 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Saeco                        20.37 (29.68 km/h)
2 Wladimir Belli (Ita) Lampre                        0.14
3 Giuseppe Palumbo (Ita) De Nardi-Colpack            0.20
4 Jamie Burrow (GBr) Amore & Vita                    0.26
5 Peter Farazjn (Bel) Cofidis                        0.27
6 Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Saeco                        0.37
7 Josè Rujano (Col) Colombia-Selle Italia            0.43
8 Timothy Jones (Zim) Amore & Vita                   0.44
9 Ruggero Marzoli (Ita) Alessio                      0.44
10 Michele Scarponi (Ita) Domina Vacanze-Elitron     0.46
 
General classification after stage 3b
 
1 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Saeco                      9.21.58 (38.372 km/h)
2 Giuseppe Palumbo (Ita) De Nardi-Colpack            0.10
3 Wladimir Belli (Ita) Lampre                        0.14
4 Jamie Burrow (GBr) Amore & Vita                    0.26
5 Peter Farazjn (Bel) Cofidis                        0.27
6 Paolo Bossoni (Ita) Sidermec                       0.35
7 Timothy Jones (Zim) Amore & Vita                   0.44
8 Ruggero Marzoli (Ita) Alessio           
9 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Landbouwkrediet Colnago    0.45
10 Francisco Javier Villa Errandonea (Spa) Lampre    0.50
 
Points classification
 
1 Giuseppe Palumbo (Ita) De Nardi-Colpack
 
Mountains classification
 
1 Freddy Gonzalez (Ita) Colombia-Selle Italia
 
Young rider classification
 
1 Yaroslav Popovych (Ita) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago