Italian has several options post-Acqua & Sapone
Controversial Italian Danilo Di Luca may be some way off the rider he used to be, but he has several contract offers for 2013 and thus far has held off on making a selection.
The 36 year old raced with Acqua & Sapone this season but the Italian team is stopping due to its non-invite to the Giro d’Italia and the related decision by the sponsor to withdraw from the sport.
According to Il Centro, Di Luca has received various proposals from teams and is considering where he will compete next season. Farnese Vini – Selle Italia is one which is said to be interested. It also stated the Belgian squad Landbouwkrediet was keen on his signature, but the team has since denied this to Wielerland.
However the latter states that Christina Watches and Vini Fatini are also amongst those bidding for his services.
Di Luca had a quiet year compared to his peak seasons, but still clocked up victory in the Gran Premio Nobili Rubinetterie and on a stage of the Tour of Austria. He was first on stage two of the latter event.
He also took a number of top five placings, including on stages of Tirreno Adriatico, the Settimana Coppa e Bartali and the Tour de Wallonie. He was second in the Italian road race championship and third in both the Coppa Agostini and Tre Valli Varesine races.
Once regarded as one of the best Classic riders in the world, the 2007 Giro d’Italia champion tested positive for CERA during the 2009 edition of the Grand Tour. He had finished second overall and taken two stages plus the points classification, but lost these results due to the test result. He was initially handed a two year ban. However this was later reduced due to his reported cooperation with investigators, and he returned to competition in early 2011 with the Katusha team.