Damiano Cunego, the Italian Christophe Bassons

[IzzyStradlin]

Regardless, the Cunego of recent years is clearly heavier than the Giro winning, Tour Top-10ing Cunego or 2004-08.

His results have also suffered.

This could be because of less doping, less training, less discipline...or more likely a combination of all of those and maybe more. His interviews over the years seem to point to a general weariness towards the sport in general.

http://www.cyclesportmag.com/features/damiano-cunego-interview/#

http://www.podiumcafe.com/2009/5/14/875803/piccola-polemica-cunego-speaks-his

Wish the rumors of him to Garmin were true. Will be interesting to see him line up with Horner.

 

[Ferminal]

i would bet that he wasn't that light in 2004 either. he always had bigger legs than most of the gc guys

Yeh, and he's been considered more puncheur than climber for 5+ years.

 

[IndianCyclist]

There was his bout with mononucleosis in 2005. I believe that something happened for him to swerve away from doping. His comments about high speeds in TDF after he got dropped especially highlighted his stance away from doping. He has however tried all methods & trainers including Sassi but it did not work out. I think he has lost motivation.

 

[staubsauger]

He was the big favorite in 2005. He was in top shape already at Romandie. Left il Falco behind him easily. As I remember his first itt at the Giro was also pretty we'll by his standards.

Suddenly on the first mountain stage he got dropped like a stone and later got mono. I'm pretty sure there went something totally wrong with his blood bags or something like that. Also Lampre never had a good team doping program again since.

Maybe he still tried some CERA in 2006, 2007 and 2008, but didn't go loco like Di Luca & Ricco, but finally went clean after his last Amstel victory.

Although his performances in 2011 and 2012 were pretty well again!

 

[Parrulo]

I had this idea that the 2011 Tour was very slow regarding climbing times. Maybe that and the many riders crashing out of the race, is why a cleanish Cunego hang on for his decent top 10 placing on GC (he was 5th before the last itt).

I also had a feeling at the time that things were going the right way, even tho Contador's second rest day BB was pretty obvious.

And i just checked the 2005 Giro on CQ and indeed it looked like Cunego was on very good form since Romandie and looked like one of the strongest up to the first mountain stage. Very interesting finding.

 

[The Hitch]

Is Cunego finally making a comeback, or is this another one of his bluffs like a few times over the last few years when he looked like he was coming good but never made it?

 

[Fatclimber]

I think he's made about as big of a comeback as he can. As long as he abides by his tattoo anyway. He had his fun, but he's one of those guys that makes me wonder what could have been without a peloton filled with junkies.

 

[Ferminal]

I think he's made about as big of a comeback as he can. As long as he abides by his tattoo anyway. He had his fun, but he's one of those guys that makes me wonder what could have been without a peloton filled with junkies.

Agree there might be some choice but also some is what is simply not possible without far too much risk. 2011 June-July is probably a good indication of what a Cunego can achieve on the average top5 GC rider program.

(Apologies if I made the same point upthread).

And yeh, I'm not getting too excited about his Giro chances.

 

[Franklin]

Suddenly on the first mountain stage he got dropped like a stone and later got mono. I'm pretty sure there went something totally wrong with his blood bags or something like that.

Or he actually got sick.... Somehow the idea that being on a program makes you bulletproof for diseases is ridiculous.

I'm not doubting he was using Epo, but the recurring theme that when a rider bombs it must be because he either gets clean or his program fails is bizarre. These things always happened with athletes, even pre-epo.

If only it was so simple to take a talented cyclist and juice him up: Presto: GT winner.

Now onto Cunego: 2004 certainly was impressive, but as many stated, the level of competition that year was very weak.