Damiano Cunego (Lampre-Caffita) will return to racing at the end of this week, leading the Lampre-Caffita team in the Brixia Tour (July 22-24). The young talent has been out of action for nearly two months after he was diagnosed with mononucleosis in the spring, which destroyed his chances of winning the Giro d'Italia for a second time.
"When they told me I would come back to racing I immediately went to check my bike," said Cunego. "I'm so happy, at the beginning of June I was even able to do more than 2 hours training. Only in July I started to feel better and improve the quantity and the quality of my training."
Cunego is returning to competition a few days earlier than expected. Team manager Giuseppe Martinelli said, "The doctor of the team, Carlo Guardascione, told me the virus was OK, so I decided he could race the Brixia Tour. It is a short race of three stages, particularly suited to the characteristics of Damiano. The mountain time trial will be important to see how he is reacting at the moment. The Brixia Tour will be a good test to determine how his real condition is before this very busy end of season."
Cunego's upcoming program will be:
July 22-24: 5th Brixia Tour Brescia- Italy
August 4: GP Città di Camaiore - Italy
August 6: Giro del Lazio - Italy
August 8-9: Due Giorni Marchigiana - Italy
August 13: Clasica di San Sebastian - ProTour- Spain
August 16: Tre Valli Varesine - Italy
August 17: Coppa Agostoni- Italy
August 20: Giro del Veneto - Italy
August 24: Gp Nobili Rubinetterie- Arona - Italy
September 1: Trofeo Melinda - Italy September 3: Coppa Placci Italy
