Cunego : Where would he fit?

iainf72

He's linked to

Garmin
Sky
Liquigas

for 2011 - Which team would he do well in? I'm tempted to say Garmin. Also, to be fair, I'm surprised BMC haven't got the big cheque book out yet.

RichN95.

Not Liquigas, unless there's some big exodus. They've got too many stars already.

The other two are quite similar, but Hesjedal has done well this season at the the classics that Cunego goes for, while Gerrans didn't really. And Sky want Italians more than Garmin. And Sky have an Italian base in Quarrata, which is just down the road from where Cunego comes from.

So, I'd say Sky.

Kléber

He's an interesting rider, capable of a few moments of excitement but one who seems to fall between a GC rider and a one day specialist.

As for fit, I think he's too old for Sky, getting in touch with his inner chimpanzee and other pseudo-psychological management techniques is something you can probably do with a young rider but it's harder with an old rider who's been around the block.

Similarly he might find Garmin too American, all those guys wearing baseball caps backwards and no other Italians on the squad. Would he move to Girona? Even if not all of them live there (Rich, Cunego's from Veneto, Sky have a base in Tuscany).

That said both Sky and Garmin are probably keen for an Italian rider and he can weigh up their offers, whether he fits or not is one thing, but he'll look who's paying first.

DaveyL

Kim Andersen's new team?

RichN95.

DaveyL wrote:

Kim Andersen's new team?

But don't the Schlecks do the races that Cunego targets?

DaveyL

You mean the Tour of Lombardy?

ms_tree

No I think you mean the Ardennes classics.

RichN95.

DaveyL wrote:

You mean the Tour of Lombardy?

Andy came 4th there once. But, yeah, I did mean the Ardennes classics

ultimobici

Kléber wrote:

He's an interesting rider, capable of a few moments of excitement but one who seems to fall between a GC rider and a one day specialist.

As for fit, I think he's too old for Sky, getting in touch with his inner chimpanzee and other pseudo-psychological management techniques is something you can probably do with a young rider but it's harder with an old rider who's been around the block.

Similarly he might find Garmin too American, all those guys wearing baseball caps backwards and no other Italians on the squad. Would he move to Girona? Even if not all of them live there (Rich, Cunego's from Veneto, Sky have a base in Tuscany).

That said both Sky and Garmin are probably keen for an Italian rider and he can weigh up their offers, whether he fits or not is one thing, but he'll look who's paying first.

Cunego is a baby compared to most of the Sky squad at 28. Wiggins, Flecha, Portal, Cioni & Barry etc are all older than him. He is a little like Fondriest in that I think he needs to leave Italy to really blossom. He's a great rider with the added bonus that he handed out a kicking to a pre ban Ricco in Como.

DaveyL

RichN95 wrote:

DaveyL wrote:

You mean the Tour of Lombardy?

Andy came 4th there once. But, yeah, I did mean the Ardennes classics

It was a bit of a flippant comment as he seems to have done a lot better in that race than he has in the Ardennes classics. It could work though, I mean QS and Saxo have multiple riders who target the same races (Devolder/Boonen, Cancellara/Breschel). A plan B might be a good idea.