Giro: Cunego

Eurosport | Changing of the guard

Eurosport has an excellent look at the career of Damiano Cunego, the Giro d'Italia champion-in-waiting, who's likely to take the biggest victory in his career later today in Milan.

The Eurosport article goes so far as to compare Cunego to 3 former champions: Marco Pantani, Bernard Hinault (the only Giro winner with more stage victories than Cunego's 4), and Fausto Coppi himself (one of few Giro winners younger than 22-year-old Cunego).

When during Thursday's first Dolomites stage from San Vendemiano to Falzes, it became clear that it was not Simoni's day, Cunego pounced on his date with destiny, securing the pink jersey and signing the deed the next day with the win in Bormio.

And what's next for Cunego? He won his junior world championship in Verona, his hometown in 1999, and the city plays host to the senior road worlds this year, so mark Cunego as a favorite there.