14 Facts About Damiano Cunego

Damiano Cunego finished second in the UCI Road World Championships in 2008 and in the 2008 UCI ProTour.

Damiano Cunego was discovered by Giuseppe Martinelli who worked closely with Marco Pantani.

Damiano Cunego came to prominence in May 2004, winning the Giro d'Italia at the age of 22 with Saeco.

Damiano Cunego's strength came as a blow to his captain Gilberto Simoni; relations between the two during the race were strained when Damiano Cunego sprinted away from Simoni to win the 18th stage after Simoni's solo breakaway.

Damiano Cunego finished the season number one in the UCI Road World Cup, the youngest rider to achieve it, aged 23.

Damiano Cunego was the last rider ranked first on the world ranking, because from 2005 the ranking was replaced by the UCI ProTour.

Damiano Cunego finished 3rd on stage 17, on the road to Morzine.

In 2007 Damiano Cunego again won the Giro del Trentino and his second Giro di Lombardia.

Damiano Cunego was widely tipped to be victorious in the Tour de France, but he struggled and eventually dropped out before the finish.

In early 2014 however, details emerged that indicated that Damiano Cunego might have been one of few Lampre riders to refuse treatment by Spanish doctor Jose Ibarguren Taus, who was linked to doping practices.

In June 2020, Damiano Cunego was hospitalised due to ventriculitis, an infection of the cerebral ventricle.

In early 2020, Damiano Cunego was profiled in British magazine Cyclist.

Damiano Cunego was quoted as saying that believes that the increased media attention and sponsor obligations interfered with his training and mental focus, ultimately preventing him from achieving his full potential after his 2004 Giro victory and other initial successes.

Damiano Cunego expressed concern about the state of 2020s Italian cycling, highlighting the lack of emerging talent compared to other nations.