After several years of struggles, Damiano Cunego got a great boost to his morale in today's first stage of the Vuelta al Pais Vasco. The little prince suddenly looked like his former self when he finished in the first chase group and took a beautiful top 5 result on the tough stage.

Damiano Cunego has endured a few testing years. While it has long been clear that the Italian would never been the grand tour star that his early results indicated, he had developed into one of the leading classics contenders but in 2012 and 2013 he faded into anonymity.

Already at the Strade Bianche, there were signs that things may change in 2014 and that we can again expect the little prince to play a key role in the Ardennes classics. Today he confirmed those early indications when he rode to an excellent fifth in the first stage of Vuelta al Pais Vasco, finishing in the first chase group behind the superior Alberto Contador and Alejandro Valverde.

"Today's stage was an immediate test because of the many climbs on a very short course," he said. "In such races you may not feel brillant from the start, especially if they are placed in the beginning of the week.

 
"Right from the start, I knew that I was on a good day. I did my best. I congratulate Contador and Valverde for the ability to make a difference. Behind, we were going really fast but we were not able to get back.

"Entering the top five was a target. I did it. Now we'll see every day how we can be even more competitive."