A method of controlling a drying cycle for drying delicate laundry in a laundry drying apparatus, in particular in a dryer or in a washer dryer, wherein the drying apparatus comprises: a cabinet, a drum adapted to receive laundry to be dried, wherein the drum is rotatable supported in the cabinet, a drying air channel arrangement designed to guide drying air such that it passes through the drum for drying the laundry in the drum, a heating element arranged in the channel arrangement for heating the drying air, a blower arranged in the channel arrangement adapted to convey the drying air, and a drum motor adapted to rotate the drum selectively in a main rotation direction and in a counter rotation direction, wherein the method comprises the following drying phase sequence: a first drying phase in which the drum is rotated alternately in the main and the counter rotation direction while the drying air is conveyed at a first average flow rate through the drum, and subsequently a second drying phase in which the drum is rotated or mainly rotated in the main rotation direction while the drying air is conveyed at a second average flow rate through the drum, wherein the first average flow rate is lower than the second average flow rate, characterized in that during the first drying phase all or most rotation periods of the alternating main and counter rotation directions (58, 66) have a duration such that the drum is rotated less than 5 full turns, less than 3 turns, less than 1 turn or less than half turn, and/or wherein the maximum drum rotation speed (s_drum) in the first drying phase is equal to or below 20, 15, 10, 8 or 5 rpm or below 0.5, 0.3 or 0.2 the maximum drum rotation speed (s_drum) of the second drying phase. a cabinet, a drum adapted to receive laundry to be dried, wherein the drum is rotatable supported in the cabinet, a drying air channel arrangement designed to guide drying air such that it passes through the drum for drying the laundry in the drum, a heating element arranged in the channel arrangement for heating the drying air, a blower arranged in the channel arrangement adapted to convey the drying air, and a drum motor adapted to rotate the drum selectively in a main rotation direction and in a counter rotation direction, a first drying phase in which the drum is rotated alternately in the main and the counter rotation direction while the drying air is conveyed at a first average flow rate through the drum, and subsequently a second drying phase in which the drum is rotated or mainly rotated in the main rotation direction while the drying air is conveyed at a second average flow rate through the drum, wherein the first average flow rate is lower than the second average flow rate, characterized in that during the first drying phase all or most rotation periods of the alternating main and counter rotation directions (58, 66) have a duration such that the drum is rotated less than 5 full turns, less than 3 turns, less than 1 turn or less than half turn, and/or wherein the maximum drum rotation speed (s_drum) in the first drying phase is equal to or below 20, 15, 10, 8 or 5 rpm or below 0.5, 0.3 or 0.2 the maximum drum rotation speed (s_drum) of the second drying phase.