Cycling Profile: Damiano Cunego
Damiano Cunego is an Italian professional road racing cyclists and currently rides for UCI Proteam Lampre-ISD. He was born in September 19, 1981 in Cerro Veronese, Veneto. He took his biggest victory in Giro d’ltalia 2004, Amstel gold race 2008 and Giro
di Lombardia in 2004, 2007 and 2008.
He grabbed second place in UCI road world championships and UCI Pro Tour in 2008. Primarily a climber, Cunego showed a good effort and improved his Time-Trialing. He also has great sprinting ability which is unusual for a climber. After retirement of Paolo
Bettini he was considered as the best Italian cyclists for classic races.
At the age of 20, he turned pro in 2002 with Saeco team and he took his first victory as professional when he won the Giro d’Oro and Giro Medio Brenta. In 2003 season, Cunego grabbed the seventh stages and overall standing of Tour of Qinghai Lake.
In May 2004, he won the four stages (2, 7, 16 and 18) and won took the overall lead in Giro d’ltalia with Saeco Macchine per Caffe team at the age of 22. His capitan Gilberto Simoni gave him strength and both of them showed good relations in the stage when
Cunego sprinted away from Simoni and in the solo breakaway, Cunego took the 18th stage.
In October, he secured first and second stage and also overall standing of Giro del Trentino. He also won first place in GP Industria & Artigianato, Gran Premio Nobili Rubinetterie and Memorial Marco Pantani. He took ninth place in UCI world championship
road race.
In 2005 season, Saeco Macchine per Caffe team was replaced in Lampre-Caffita and Simoni and Cunego were co-captains in this team. He managed to win first place in the three events including, Gran Premio Nobili Rubinetterie, Trofeo Melinda and Japan Cup.
He also took the third stage and took overall standing of Tour de Romandie. He secured third place in Tre Valli Varesine and ninth spot in Liege-Bastogne-Liege.
In 2006 season, he took a part in Tour de France and he was the best young rider. He secured runner-up spot in 15th stage after losing Franck Schleck and also finished third in the 17th stage. The Italian also took the third spot in Liege-Bastogne-Liege.
He also took the overall fourth place in Giro d’ltalia.
In 2007 season, Cunego won the Giro di Lombardia with the first and second stage and took overall standing in Giro del Trentino. He continued his good efforts and managed to gain first place in GP Beghelli and overall fifth place in Giro d’ltalia and Giro
dell’Emilia.
In 2008 season, he showed his powerful sprint effort in the Klasika Primavera and Amstel gold race against Frank Schleck and Alejandro Valverde. He also grabbed runner-up spot in the UCI road world championship road race and also took the overall Japan cup.
Damiano won the overall points standing in Vuelta al Pais Vasco.
In 2009, Cunego won the 18th and 19th stage of Vuelta a Espana and took the second and third stage to take the overall standing in Settimana Ciclistica Internazionale “Coppi e Bartali”. He took fifth place in Vuelta al Pais Vasco and Amstel gold race.
Cunego took fifth place in La Fleche Wallonne and sixth place in Amstel Gold race. He also took the tenth place GP de Quebe in the season of 2010. Damiano took the second stage of Tour of Romandie 2011 and secured runner-up spot in Tour de Suisse.
Due to his good performance he took part in Tour de France but grabbed the overall seventh place. If Cuego continues his brilliant performances then there is possibility that he can win the Tour de Suisse next year.
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