Danilo Di Luca (Vini Fantini) refused to speak to reporters when he left his team hotel earlier today to travel home after learning of his positive EPO test. He admitted to be surprised by the result but would postpone further comments until the result of the B sample is known.

The news of the cancellation of one of the biggest mountain stages in this year's Giro d'Italia was certainly disappointing but a much more sad piece of news broke at almost the same time when it was confirmed that Danilo Di Luca had tested positive for EPO in an out-of-competition control just prior to the start of the Giro. His team reacted immediately by sacking the rider and asking him to leave the hotel.

Reporters had gathered to get a reaction from the man in the spotlight but he was tight-lipped when he faced the media scrum.

"We'll wait for the contra-analysis and then we'll see,” he told reporters in a video posted on Gazzetta's website.

One journalist asked whether he was surprised by the test result. "Yes. Arrivederci," was his reply.

UCI has now confirmed the test result, and Di Luca will now await the result for the B sample. If it also comes out positive, he will remain provisionally suspended until the Italian anti-doping authorities determine whether he has committed an anti-doping violation.

As a second-time offender, his most likely sanction is a lifetime ban.