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Bikebuster articles |
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The secrets behind Di Luca´s transformation |
By Per Bausager
Danilo Di Luca whom in many years has been an influential rider with good results, is in this season gone through the sound barrier, and may well be considered as the worlds best allround rider for now.
Di Luca has always had the engine to accomplish great achievements in road racing. With his only 62 kilos, he induces around 1000 watts during his acceleration, while his anaerobic threshold - which is reached at 175 puls beats - is at 400 watts. This gives a weight/force ratio at 6,5 watts pr. kilo, which clearly is among the highest reachable.
Furthermore Di Luca is capable of pedaling with a very high frequency at 90-95 rpm, even at harsh clims, where he is one of the last ones to change for the big blade when the finals take place. This means that he preserves his muscles energy and explosive force longer then his opponents.
Di Luca himself says, that the most important reason for the remarkable improvement he has experienced, is because of change in materials, which is very interesting given that he has chosen a aluminum frame build at Bianchi's Reparto Corsa department in Bergamo.
This is considered a step back-wards in terms of evolution, when today many pro's rides standardframes for the cause that several industrial amateurs with a strong economy has been able to by their way as surpliers into the big teams. These manufacturers is often not able to make customiced frames, for that reason that these usualy uses monocoque carbon frames, which is only avaliable in 4-5 different frame sizes. The main reason for this is that the casting mould costs around 100.000 USD, so there is no one who wants to provide 10-12 different sizes, and definately not special customized ones.
Together with his technical advisors, Danilo Di Luca has come to the conlusion, that it is more importatn to achieve exactly that position on the bike, where he best possibly distributes his force and subpless(the ability to pedal smothly), then it is to ride on a monocoque frame og safe 100-200 grams.
Di Luca has on his Bianchi FG Lite a steeper saddle tube then before. It Is now 74 degrees and his set-back is only 3cm. This trick gives him a larger power-output, but compromises the ability to maintain a high pedal frequency. To make up for this, he has lowered the saddle height from 700mm to 694mm. At the same time he has changed from 170mm pedal arms to 172,5mm arms.
He says it surprises him to note that he has been able to make this change without falling to a lower pedalfrequensy, but he instet better achieves the powerful shifts in rythm which is seen in the finals.
As a last thing, Di Luca says that the surroundings on his new team Liquigas is very stimulating for him, and that he has a good time with his fellow riders, and that he feels he gets the support which he need to win the big races. |
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