Di Luca Delivers at the Giro

Danilo Di Luca on stage 15

The day we had all been expecting to arrive never did, Di Luca didn't crack and Sean [Kelly] and I were able to commentate on his eventual arrival into Milan as the new, improved, Danilo Di Luca.

In truth, there had only ever been one day that could have ripped the Maglia Rosa from Di Luca's shoulders and the tenacious man from Abruzzo was determined not to let that happen despite the best efforts of rival Gilberto Simoni.

Not since the 2005 Tour de France Time Trial up Alpe d'Huez have I seen so many cycling fans on one place as that day on Monte Zoncalan. They stood 10 deep in places, crammed onto the hairpin bends at the top of the mountain and although held back from the overwhelming urge to push their heroes by a single line of barriers, the tension almost toppled over into hysteria.

Those that say cycling is on a downward spiral thanks to 'the great doping debacle' should spend a week or so at the Giro. The Tifosi, as the Italian fans are known, simply cannot get enough of cycling, especially their national heroes in their national tour. Crowds at the roadside were the largest I've seen in a number of years and domestic television audiences were up a staggering 10% on 2006.

So what does this show? Some say the world is divided between those who care passionately that cyclists ride clean, and those who simply don't give a stuff. For the latter it is the sacrifice and spectacle that is all and the Giro is just such a spectacle. Others, just as convincingly, argue that it is precisely because cycling has been battered and bruised of late that the public want to in some way spiritually re-connect with sportsmen who can achieve feats that they can only dream of.

Di Luca is one such sportsman. A lover of literature, highly passionate about architecture as well as able to speak knowledgably about the works of Picasso (presumably in his Rose period), he becomes the first man from south of Rome to capture the pink jersey and thereby the hearts of the Italian nation. There is a definite feeling that Di Luca, with his fighting spirit and artistic leanings, is perhaps a 'renaissance man' for cycling. Only time will tell.

Lest we forget that there is another, brighter side to our sport, 2 British riders have done their best to remind us this week. Steve Cummings made it all the way to Milan and even gave it a speculative dig on the final day and Dan Lloyd took 11th spot in the prologue of the Tour of Luxembourg just 11 seconds back on winner Jimmy Engoulvent.

The Liquigas team worked well throughout the race

Dan has consistently been the best performer for DFL-Cyclingnews-Litespeed this year and deserves to step through into the big time soon. He can time trial and climb with the best and importantly, he is untainted as a rider. His rides at Gent-Wevelgem and in Luxembourg have left his team leader, Nico Mattan, looking like he is minding his pension rather than performing for Nick Collins' Belgian based team and both Dan and Nick deserve more.

It now seems clear that the UCI intends to tighten up the criteria by which teams with small budgets, like DFL, get entries into races. A star name may not be enough in the near future to guarantee a place on the start line, especially if it deprives other squads whose financial commitment to the sport may be considerably higher and depth of talent greater.

Just two more weeks at home and then Richard Hallett and I are off to ride the Highclere sportive, Dragon Ride and London-Paris Cycle Tour all before the Grand Depart in London. So much to do, so little time...