It was a reinvigorated Damiano Cunego who did a brilliant last stage of the Settimana Coppi e Bartali. The Nippo-Vini Fantini rider went on the attack on the climb of Via Confetta and finally won the sprint for second in Roccapelago. It is a second place that highlights the growing condition for the Italian who is working to be at his best for the Giro d'Italia . 

"When luck turns, I can still achieve great results," he told Spaziociclismo. "Today I was riding to win the stage, but Meintjes was very good. He did the race well and anticipated us. Our three-rider group couldn't catch him so it means that he was stronger than us. I'm happy, but not quite as I would like. I'll try again.

"It is a beautiful emotion to back on the podium and do it with my new team, although to narrowly miss the victory and not being able to win always leaves a bit of regret. Congratulations to Meintjes, a young boy who won with a great action. My second place in a nervous and complicated stage like today's is a good sign for me and the entire team that has worked so hard these days and is reaping the rewards with two podium finishes. I thank my team-mates and team managers who have worked the best for me. Now we want to win."

In the final stage, Cunego had a scare because a MTN - Qhubeka team car almost brought him and his chase companions down. "They probably had to rush back to the first rider," he explained. "They passed us in a downhill turn. We went off the road to avoid. They have to be more careful  as it endangered our safety."

In the new few days Cunego will go in Sicily for a high-altitude training camp in Etna and then continue the path towards the Corsa Rosa by riding the Amstel Gold Race and the Giro del Trentino. The Dutch race gives great memories, but he claims not to be in the fight for the win by saying that he wants to "honor the jersey" but will not be well prepared as he is "focused on the Giro ." It is still be an important race "to pick up the pace" and test himself against other riders."