Damiano Cunego was in the breakaway on the 18th stage of the Giro d’Italia, in the right escape with a perfect finish for him, ready to fight for the stage victory. But he ended up in the Gallarate hospital after a bad crash that left him with a broken collarbone. Tomorrow he will undergo surgery.

Stage 18 was a goal for Nippo Vini Fantini who worked hard to make Damiano Cunego join the early break alongside riders like Gilbert (BMC) and Chavanel (IAM).

But what separated Damiano Cunego from the win was again bad luck. After the crash and the retirement of Daniele Colli, the team's in-form sprinter, they lost Damiano Cunego who was involved in a bad crash.

Cunego is now recovering in the Gallarate hospital where the medical team of doctor Biban ha diagnosed a broken right collarbone and an hematoma to the right elbow. The rider will be released this evening and he will move to Verona where the medical team of Professor Andrea Scagli is already waiting for him to procede with the medical surgery.

General Manager Francesco Pelosi is frustrated:

“In this Giro d’Italia with young talented riders we had one great captain and one great moral leader. Both of them have been very unlucky. After losing Daniele Colli when he was at his best, Damiano Cunego was involved in a bad crash when he was attacking in a stage that was suiting him perfectly . We want to thank the medical team of the Giro d’Italia, with doctor Tredici who is always fast and professional with riders in the race. Now we are really sad. We are with our rider and we want him to rest and be with us again as soon as it will be possibile. Damiano and Daniele will both come back with more determination to win together."

Sports director Stefano Giuliani said.

“We have been really unfortunate. Today we were aiming at the stage victory, for sure it was the start of great action in the right escape. All the best riders were in that escape. Damiano is a great person and a great captain, he finished his Giro with an attack, looking for a victory. But together we will take our revenge."