Damiano Cunego lined up at the Giro dell’Emilia with the number one pinned on his back, celebrating his last appearance in the Lampre-Merida outfit before departing for another Italian team, Nippo-Vini Fantini. The 33-year old rider admitted that he had closed a beautiful chapter of his career but was eager to move on, looking for a new source of motivation.

“I was a little off and needed a new stimuli to bring me back to the game. This takes nothing from the beautiful moments I spent with the Galbusera family and all the staff [at Lampre-Merida], though,” Cunego told Gazzetta dello Sport.

The Nippo-Vini Fantini does not have the best reputation in cycling due to several doping cases in two recent seasons, but Cunego explains that choosing the Italian Pro Continental squad from offers he received seemed natural to him.

“They approached me with simplicity, explained me the project and from that point on it seemed a natural thing to accept it. I will be a mentor for younger riders, I can do it. I also will be looking for results and try to win some races.”

The 33-year old Italian reflected on his unsuccessful last four seasons at Lampre, admitting that he lacked motivation to perform in line with team’s expectations and achieve results comparable to those from years 2004 – 2008.

“Until 2009, I was among the top ten riders in the world. After then, the determination of young riders to step in was probably stronger than mine to maintain that position.”

“Cycling has changed a lot. Earlier everything was easier – there were leaders and gregarious. Only few men fought for victories in biggest races and if you had the legs, you were among them. Now that distinction is not so clear anymore, the leaders are still there, but a level of average riders is much higher and differences between those two groups are more subtle. Staying on the top is much harder than getting there,” the 33-year old Italian explained.

Once again, the former Giro d’Italia champion emphasized his dedication to the discipline and ability to provide young riders with a good example.

“Above anything else, it’s not only about winning or losing. What matters here is giving an example of behavior and commitment. The results are obviously important but obtaining them should never become an obsession. In cycling and in life.”