Although he has been overshadowed by Ivan Basso?s success in the Giro d?Italia and his role as favourite for the Tour de France, Damiano Cunego is determined to bounce back and has decided to ride the Tour de France.
Cunego will not be riding for the yellow jersey when he gets to France; instead he will concentrate on stage wins and learning as much as he can during the three weeks.
?I?m only 24 and I?m still learning the ropes, so it?s important I find out what the Tour is about,? he told Cycling Weekly after winning the Alessio Galletti memorial criterium on Friday night in Tuscany.
Cunego considered saving himself for the World Championships in September and the end-of-season Classics, but directeur sportif and mentor Giuseppe Martinelli convinced him to ride the Tour.
?He can learn something every hundred metres during the Tour de France and he will be a better rider afterwards,? Martinelli said.
?He has no chance of winning it overall because there are two long time trials and not many climbs, but he has to find out the hard way what the Tour is all about.?
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
-
-
Primož Roglič confirms he will leave Jumbo-Visma
Giro d'Italia champion does not reveal his destination for 2024 yet, though
-
Dr Hutch: The aesthetics of the 'chest-fairing' is a funny hill to want to die on
The earnest buffoonery of budget aero hacks may rile TT diehards, but Cycling Weekly's columnist salutes the cut-price cunning of their innovations
