Piccolo Principe ten seconds slower than last year but in amongst the other overall contenders
Damiano Cunego (Lampre-ISD) has proclaimed himself satisfied with his performance in today’s opening time trial in the Tour de Suisse, despite finishing the Lausanne course ten seconds slower than he did last year. While some were markedly quicker than their 2011 performance however - most notably Peter Sagan (Liquigas-Cannondale), who went 15 seconds quicker this time to win the stage - many others were slower, and Cunego’s tiem was comparable with most of those looking at eventual victory.
"I had quite good feelings during the time trial and the result is what I expected it was,” Cunego explained. “The course was mixed, less suitable for specialist than the usual time trials, so I could realise a performance that gives me the chance to face tomorrow stage with no large gaps to the other opponents for the overall classification.”
With Cunego, 36 seconds behind Sagan, are Fränk Schleck and Linus Gerdemann (both RadioShack-Nissan), Bauke Mollema (Rabobank), while the likes of Robert Gesink (Rabobank) are only a few seconds ahead. Of the overall contenders, only Roman Kreuziger (Astana) and Jakob Fuglsang (RadioShack-Nissan) finished significantly ahead of Cunego, in a discipline that he has been consistently poor in.
"The course was the same as last year but looking at the times of all the riders they have, on average, nearly all gone ten seconds slower, which may have been due to uncertain weather conditions,” said Lampre-ISD directeur sportif Orlando Maini. “Cunego has ridden a fair stage, characterised by good constancy along the course. Looking at the performance of other athletes who will be aiming at the general classification, I would say that we can face tomorrow's stage of without being at a disadvantage.”
Cunego’s poor time trialling cost him victory in the 2011 race, as he conceded 2’03” to Levi Leipheimer (then RadioShack, now Omega Pharma-Quick Step) in just 32.1km on the final day, and lost the race to the American by just four seconds. The Piccolo Principe, coming as he is off a strong performance in the Giro d’Italia, will hope that his good feelings today will be with him in Gossau on Friday, where he will face another 34.3km against the clock.