There had been weeks of speculation about where Damiano Cunego would end his career, with some suggesting he would ride at the Pro Continental level with Neri Sottoli, Androni Giocattoli or even Bretagne Seche. Yesterday, he proved everyone wrong, when it was announced he would be with Vini Fantini for 2015, who are stepping up to Pro Coninental.

“I'm happy with the decision taken and the choice made,” Cunego said in a post on his personal website. “It is a nice project, which will see us at the start of next season with so many young people and with my experience, which I hope will be helpful for them to take away a lot of satisfaction. It will be a team built around me, I still want to race and give more success to my fans.”

Now 33, he will lead the team and pass on his experience to the younger riders, including Tour de France winner Vincenzo Nibali’s younger brother Antonio, 22.

He won the 2004 Giro d’Italia but never scaled the giddy heights of Grand Tour success in his career again although he did achieve more success in cycling, winning three Giro di Lombardias, one Amstel Gold and the Young Rider Classification at the Tour de France as stages in the Giro and Vuelta.

Cunego has ridden for Lampre for a decade and he issued a heart-warming thanks to the team.

“An exciting new adventure awaits me and I am happy to share with you this step. I leave a team like Lampre, who by now have become almost like a second family to me after nine years together,” said Cunego. “I want to thank everyone from Beppe Saronni, the technical staff, managers, masseurs, mechanics, who have followed me with professionalism, and heartfelt thanks goes out to Galbusera (Mario Glbausera, owner of Lampre) who with his passion is close to the team and supports our sport.”

“We have experienced some great moments and some more difficult, but it will take forever have fond memories from this period of my life.”

Lampre-Merida assured fans that the feeling was mutual by releasing the following statement:

“The team and Cunego celebrated together 27 times, this is the number of the victories that Damiano obtained wearing blue-fuchsia colors,” it read. “The numbers talk for themselves, but the memories are worth a lot more than the figures. In this relationship, both parties gave a lot to the other: the team thanks Damiano for these ten years, being aware that this gratitude is largely repaid.”

Cunego’s Lampre career will end surprisingly after the Giro dell’Emilia and the Japan Cup, rather than the Giro di Lombardia, where Cunego was so successful.