Cunego wants to compete in the classics and in the Giro

“Il Piccolo Principe” wants his career back on track after a disastrous season and he firmly believes that 2014 will be the year that changes it all.

Cunego is no longer young (born 1981), and has had a hard time to live up to his nickname “The Little Prince.” Although widely considered the best Italian classics rider since Paolo Bettini’s retirement, the last years have been anything but kind to him.

Cunego’s career figure among the best (amongst other including a Giro win, and multiple Giri di Lombardia), but since 2010 his career has practically been in ruins. Nonetheless, Cunego believes that he can come back, and compete against the best in the Giro d’Italia:

“I’d like to ride it, prepare well for it and be competitive,” he told Italian newspaper Tuttosport.

Cunego insisted that his age does not matter, and despite playing second violin to younger teammate Diego Ulissi this season, believes he may get another chance.

“I’m only 32, I can still be around for a while yet. I hope to get back to my best starting from next season. That’s the big goal, my only goal for now,” he reiterated to Tuttosport. “The most important thing is that I feel good again, be up there fighting for victory, both at the Giro and in the Classics.”

Seeing a Cunego at his best would be refreshing indeed, as Italian cycling (taking Nibali out of the equation) is far from as dominant and visible as it once were, and also because he was quite simply a damn good rider.

“Some people think my time is up but we’ll see. I don’t think so. The road will reveal my destiny.”