After a season to forget, Damiano Cunego is ready to start from scratch, once again. For the 32 year-old Lampre – Merida rider, 2014 year will be crucial to decide what will be his future role in the Italian team, in which has always played a role of an undisputable figurehead.

The situation has changed due to utterly unsatisfying performances of the former Giro d’Italia winner, as well as to the arrival of Rui Costa in his coveted rainbow jersey and the gradual growth of Diego Ulissi. While those riders are making anyway questionable comeback of Cunego to his previous position even more difficult, the rider of Cerro Veronese claims he is far away from being finished and feels to some extent stimulated by the competition within the team.

In an interview for the International Cycling, Cunego has used an inappropriate build-up period which forced him to continually chase the peak shape, which, in fact, never came, as an excuse to justify his bad 2013 season. Taking all those circumstances into consideration, Italian rider agreed with the team management to start the new season from scratch with an atypical kick-off as he will debut on the Argentinean roads at the Tour de San Luis..

"It will be my first trip to this country - said Cunego - I'm very curious to see these lands. I do not think I can fight for victory so early in the season, my intention is to pay honors to race organizers and build up my form."

Earlier in his professional career, the Ardennes Classics and Giro d’Italia would be obvious targets for the Italian rider, but now his main objective is to find any reminiscences of his former self. Only then he will be able to decide whether to compete for some major victories in Ardennes Classics and the Giro, or not. For now Cunego is clear:

"I cannot rule out anything yet."