Piccolo Prinicipe aiming for Ardennes Classics and Tour de France after seventh place this year
After a largely successful 2011, Damiano Cunego (Lampre-ISD) has already begun to prepare for next season. The highlight for the 30-year-old from Verona were a career-best seventh place at the Tour de France, and only his lack of prowess in time trials cost him overall victory in the Tour de Suisse. The season tailed off a bit towards the end, due to problems with his health but overall, as he outlined in an interview with la Gazzetta dello Sport, il Piccolo Principe was happy with the way things went.
"The first part was good, although I had bad ear infection and fever for the first of the northern Classics,” he explained. “Good, indeed, very good was my seventh place in the Tour; but the second part was less fortunate, because I was suffering from kidney stones."
Having been largely happy with 2011 then, it’s no surprise that Cunego has similar ambitions for next year.
"Same goals,” he said. “Classics and the Tour, then a second part - I hope – happier [than this year]. I'll start with the Giro di Reggio Calabria, then the Giro di Sardegna, then Paris-Nice instead of Tirreno-Adriatico. I’ll ride the [Volta a] Catalunya for the first time, the [Vuelta al] Pais Vasco, and finally the Ardennes."
This programme means, as it did this year, that Cunego will once again miss the Giro d’Italia. Obviously, missing the race where he first made his name with victory in 2004, is something that disappoints him.
"But you can not do everything,” he reasoned. “And then, if you prepare well for the Classics, the Giro is too early; it’s better to concentrate on the Tour."
With his first real targets coming in the Ardennes Classics of late April, Cunego has already begun his training.
"[I started] on 22 November, alternating between the gym and cycling,” he said. “Going out for two, two and a half hours. Now, after the first team meeting, a little more in kilometres and hours. I have the right weight: 61 pounds, two more than when they are pulled ".
With a serious focus on the Classics, Cunego will even train over the Christmas period, but will also find time to celebrate the festive season at home.
"Maybe I'll train a little harder on the 24th, so as to enjoy Christmas with my family, with the alibi of recovery,” he joked. “I have less respect for the New Year: I train with no excuses."
With Cunego’s 2011 Tour result his best in a three-week race since 2007, should his health stay good through the spring, he might expect more of the same in 2012. The number of kilometres against the clock will certainly work in his favour, but the punchy climbs of the first week will certainly suit his characteristics better than some.