Triple Tour of Lombardy victor Damiano Cunego is aiming to take his second-ever spring Classic and used Thursday as an opportunity to check out part of the route of this Sunday’s Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
The course has been modified, with the Col du Rosier and the Col du Maquisard replacing the Haute-Levée and Vecquée climbs which have had to be left out due to roadworks. Cunego gives the thumbs up to the changes, which he believes will work to his advantage.
“Every year it is very useful to ride over the last part of the route,” he told Feltet.dk, referring to the team’s reconnaissance on Friday of the Stavelot, Col du Rosier, Col du Maquisard, Mont Theux, Redoute, Côte de la Roche aux Faucon and the Saint-Nicolas. “This year it was perhaps even more important because the route has been altered.
“The Col du Maquisard and Mont Theux will be hard before we hit Redoute. I think the change is very good for my characteristics. In the course of races I feel better and better and the atmosphere is good prior to Liège-Bastogne-Liège. I know the race is a target for many top riders, so it will be a tough fight.”
The 28 year old’s best performance in the Spring Classics is his victory in the Amstel Gold Race two years ago. He was sixth in the event this time round, then placed fifth in Flèche Wallonne on Wednesday. The Lampre rider is a strong climber and good sprinter, and will hope that this combination will see him land a big result on Sunday.