Napolitano: 'We all want a train like Petacchi'

Danilo Napolitano (Lampre Fondital) (Image credit: Sirotti)

By Jean-François Quénet in Lido di Camaiore

After successfully out-manoeuvring Alessandro Petacchi and the Milram train to take victory on Stage 9 of the Giro d'Italia, Lampre sprinter Danilo Napolitano told the reporters that he wouldn't mind a train of his own. "Of course I'd like to have a train at my disposal for sprinting, everybody would," he said. "Even McEwen, who sometimes pretends the opposite. But in reality, Petacchi is the only one who can sprint comfortably. At Lampre-Fondital, it's normal that the whole team is built around Damiano Cunego for the overall win."

The Sicilian sprinter was almost left out of Lampre's Giro line-up following a dismal performance at the Tour de Romandie. "At the Tour de Romandie I was going really bad," he admitted. "I wasn't in a great shape for the Giro. But the Galbusera family [owners of Lampre] and Fondital supported me. Also the DS [Giuseppe] Martinelli told me: 'Napo, if you tell me that you'll improve during the Giro, I have no problem taking you anyway.' Here we are now."

Napolitano was then asked if winning without a train deserves twice the credit. "At the home of Petacchi, give me triple!" answered the 1.76m tall muscular sprinter who sometimes struggles to keep his weight where it should be. "78..." he said, when asked to put a number on it. "No guys, put 80... But I'm not the only muscular sprinter. I think Thor Hushovd is just as muscular as I am. He's just taller than me."