Newly crowned Giro d'Italia champion Danilo Di Luca has set his sights on becoming world champion after wrapping up the biggest victory of his career.
The 31-year-old Di Luca claimed the first three-week race of his career on Sunday, winning the Giro ahead of Andy Schleck of Luxembeurg and compatriot Eddy Mazzoleni.
Far from resting on his laurels, the Liquigas rider said he had other projects.
PHOTO: AFP
When asked if his win was a beginning or an end point in his career, he said: "Well we are at the end of the Giro, so I suppose it's an end. No, I have another four more years in me. I have other aims, the world championship for example, although the finishing line does not suit me this year. But it would have been difficult for me to have done better this year than win the Liege-Bastogne-Liege and the Tour of Italy."
Di Luca said the victory silenced some of those who doubted he could win a big tour.
"I knew I was able to win a three-week race but few believed it," he said. "I have always known I could and this time I showed clearly during the race that I was capable of it. What made the difference was that I used my head as well as my legs. I never panicked at any stage even when I was attacked and that's down to age and experience. Defeats help too. Great victories are built from defeats."
Alessandro Petacchi earned his fifth stage win of the three-week race at Milan and said he was looking ahead to the Tour de France.
"Of course, the Tour de France is an aim but I'm still a bit undecided how I'm going to prepare for it."
Di Luca was also looking forward to savoring his victory.
"The final stage was 185km of celebrations and it was a fantastic party," he said.
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