Damiano Cunego (Lampre-Fondital) is hoping for a stage win in the Pyrenees after his poor time in Saturday's time trial all but ruled him out of overall contention. Cunego lost over six minutes to T-Mobile's Serguei Gonchar.
Today's climbs, the cols de Soudet and Marie-Blanque, should suit the Italian climber, who finished fourth in May's Giro d'Italia. "After [the] long flat stages, we're going to cover mountains stages," said Cunego, "I'm curious to discover the Pyrenees climbs, that I will cover without the obsession of the [overall] victory."
Meanwhile, Daniele Bennati, Lampre's team sprinter is hoping for better than his 13th place yesterday after struggling to hold his position near the front, "That was a kind of sprint that I don't like: not linear, with battles for the positions," he said.
