Damiano Cunego

Nearly four dozen riders are calling an end to their careers. Here are some of the notables.

Damiano Cunego, who won the 2004 Giro d'Italia, remains bitter that the organizers didn't give him a chance for him to retire in style.

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Damiano Cunego, winner of the 2004 Giro d'Italia, withdraws from the race due to injuries suffered in a crash Thursday

The Italian will step down to second division team Vini Fantini-Nippo and take classes on sports science

The GC field at the Giro is filled with riders both young and old, such as 24-year-old Nairo Quintana (above) and 37-year-old Cadel Evans

With a doping investigation lingering, Lampre-Merida is focusing on 2014 — which includes anchoring its grand tour plans around Rui Costa

He's joined by a number of other speedsters, including Moreno Moser and Fabio Aru

31-year-old Damiano Cunego will lead the Italian team, which boasts an average age of 29

Though it came without a true showdown against Tom Boonen, Fabian Cancellara's triumphant return to the cobbles proved his place yet again

Weekly news program looks at our coverage of Shimano's road line updates and suggests Cunego isn't one for race advice

With the Mantova case looming, Lampre shifts its rider and staff line-up, hiring former Giro director Angelo Zomegnan as an advisor

Lampre and Wilier have split, leaving the latter out of the WorldTour in 2013, but with Mantova and Padua looming, the team is under fire

Newly crowned 2011 Giro d’Italia champion Michele Scarponi will be Lampre-ISD’s leader at this year’s edition of the Giro in May.

Two former Giro champions talk Lampre leadership ahead of Italian tour

The two-time world champion Italian drove the 2012 worlds course and expects a four or five-man group to punch up a sprint for the rainbow stripes in September

ROME (AFP) — Former Tour of Italy winner Damiano Cunego and former world champion Alessandro Ballan have been called before the Italian Olympic Committee's (CONI) anti-doping prosecutor.

CHIETI, Italy (VN) ─ Michele Scarponi landed the first blow in the GC battle, his Lampre-ISD teammate Damiano Cunego close behind, in stage 4 of Tirreno-Adriatico. Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) nearly closed a 10-second gap on the 19-percent ramp into Chieti, but came up just short, with Cunego passing him and both taking same time in the final meters.

Stage 2:

• 1. Damiano CUNEGO, (ITA) Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 5:21:26
• 2. Jose Rodolfo SERPA PEREZ, (COL) Androni Giocattoli-Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni, at s.t.
• 3. Emanuele SELLA, (ITA) Androni Giocattoli-Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni, at 2
• 4. Peter SAGAN, (SVK) Liquigas-Doimo, at 2
• 5. Ben HERMANS, (BEL) Team RadioShack, at 2

• 1. Damiano CUNEGO, (Italy) Lampre-Farnese Vini, in 8:56:41
• 2. Peter SAGAN, (Slovakia) Liquigas-Doimo, at 2
• 3. Jose Rodolfo SERPA PEREZ, (Colombia) Androni Giocattoli-Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni, at 4
• 4. Emanuele SELLA, (Italy) Androni Giocattoli-Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni, at 8
• 5. Eros CAPECCHI, (Italy) Liquigas-Doimo, at 12

Michele Scarponi's arrival at Lampre may see Damiano Cunego leave for Footon-Servetto.

Damiano Cunego and Alessandro Petacchi will be in the hunt for stage victories as the pair leads Lampre-Farnese Vini at the 2010 Tour de France.

World champion Cadel Evans (BMC Racing Team) outsprints a select group of contenders to win stage 7 of the 2010 Giro d’Italia as Alexander Vinokourov regains the overall lead.

Lampre will start the Giro d’Italia with two former champions, Italians Gilberto Simoni and Damiano Cunego.