Damiano Cunego and the TDF

Originally Posted by Frihed89

Well, Lance and USPS reign supreme. But what about future challenges? Especially, what about Damiano Cunego, winner of the Giro d'Italia, whom our favourite rider on this board, Gilberto Simoni, called a "bastard and an ignoramus" after Cunego blew him away in the Giro.

Does he have the right stuff to compete with Lance in the TDF? Of course, he has to find a team that can support him, first. And he is just 23. But he looked effortlessly brutal in the mountains in the Giro this year. I don't know that much about his TT skills.

Try to be serious.

Originally Posted by limerickman

Eurosport showed the entire 2004 Giro.

Cunega and the Saeco team were very impressive throughout the Giro.
His climbing ability already makes him a threat.
Garzelli, Tonkov and his own leader Simoni tired to break him in the moutains
which he resisted admirably.
The climbs in the Giro are far tougher in gradient that the TDF and Cunega
did not seem to be distressed at all.

His TT trialling skills are good - he held his own against the likes of Cioni
and other rouleurs.
He is a bit raw because he is young.
What impressed me though was his ability to withstand the sniping from his Gilberto Simoni and the "playing up" of a dispute in the Saeco camp by the Italian press.
(Cunega was supposed to be Simoni's lieutenant but he proved to be better
than Simoni as it happened)
Cunega withstood this attention admirably.

He is a definite candidate - and time will tell if he does come forward.

Originally Posted by Miguel_garcia83

i think alejandro valverde is better, in my opinion the best young rider nowadays in the world, the most complete

Originally Posted by Miguel_garcia83

i think alejandro valverde is better, in my opinion the best young rider nowadays in the world, the most complete

Originally Posted by limerickman

Agreed - Yes I rate Valverde quite highly too.

In fact I've got him and Nozal for the Vuelta podium with Beloki (I tell a lie
I didn't think Beloki would do the Vuelta thinking he would be doing the TDF but now that he didn't do the TDF, I think he'll be there or thereabouts for the Vuelta).

Originally Posted by Miguel_garcia83

i think alejandro valverde is better, in my opinion the best young rider nowadays in the world, the most complete

Originally Posted by birdman23

Of course you do. Valverde is spanish. Personally I think Cunego would thrash Valverde.

Originally Posted by Miguel_garcia83

you underestimate me mate, so you think i prefer valverde because he is spanish? hey mate read my posts, and you will realize that i dont like heras, sastre, rubiera, noval, beltrán, zubeldia and they all are spanish
i guess you will prefer tom danielson then or timothy johnson
in spain we are not like you in usa, latest news there is life east of new england, luckyly i can watch all the cycling races on tv so i kind of know who is better and who is not, besides we dont need, like you do, to emphasize the national product

Originally Posted by Craig Walsh

He could anything.

Winning the Giro at such a young age is a great thing to put on your resume (and get a fatter contract ) and it makes people sit up and notice.

I think he should join CSC, he would be benefit from working under a great tatication in Bjarne Riis.

Originally Posted by Miguel_garcia83

oh yes, another mate for lance armstrong...
no thanks, let him fly by himself in saeco