QuickStep rider Davide Malacarne's season got off to a great start when he took a fine solo victory in the fifth stage of the Vuelta a Catalunya at the end of March - after leaving the likes of Andreas Kloeden and Luis Leon Sanchez behind. He followed that up with a solid 8th place on a stage at the Vuelta a Pais Vasco. His early season wasn't anything earth shattering, but for an, at the time, still only 22 year old rider, it was solid evidence of much more to come.
After an auspicious start to the season, things took a turn for the worse with a bad crash at the Brabantse Pijl, which resulted in a broken elbow.
At the time, Malacarne admitted to disappointment at the setback, but knew there would be more races to come in 2010 for him.
"It's a big frustration for me. But…life goes on…I will try to find other objectives to stay motivated and return to the races as soon as possible."
Malacarne did indeed make a return to racing, but has never been able to achieve the level he managed earlier in the season. Following his crash, the best results Malacarne has managed have been a 40th overall finish at the Tour of Austria and an invisible 126th overall at the Vuelta.
Fortunately, in some ways at least, the run of poor form over the second half of the season seems to have an explanation. Biciciclismo reports that the young Italian talent contracted mononucleosis and will call an end to his frustrating 2010 campaign immediately. An extended rest and a winter of training should see the all-around threat back to his top potential for 2011.