Cunego not down but out

Damiano Cunego was unlucky once again when he was delayed by two crashes in the final phase of the fourth stage in the Vuelta a España. One crash happened with less than 10 kilometres to go and Cunego was close to reentering the bunch. The next crash held up the bunch in the narrow streets of Puertollano. He lost his overall chances, even though he claimed that it was not an objective in the first place.

The second crash happened just outside the three-kilometre zone, denying riders getting the same time as the winner. Cunego arrived 2'16 after stage victor Daniele Bennati.

"I'm happy I could avoid the [first] crash. I could brake and I didn't fall, but I had to stop and then chase the bunch. When I was very close at the end of the group, another crash blocked the street."

Cunego wasn't too concerned with the time loss. "It's always a pity to lose time, but it's not a drama since my target is to try to do well in some stages." In the overall, Cunego is now 3'19 back.

Cunego had to abandon the Tour de France after crashing heavily in stage 18.