Davide Santuccione follows professional contract dream

By Gregor Brown

Davide Santuccione is pushing to live out his dream of becoming a professional cyclist despite being known as the son of Carlo, the doctor at the centre of the 2004 Oil for Drugs investigation. "I know that ahead of me awaits a good challenge," he commented in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"I will defend him, but maybe it has little value since I am his son," continued the 23 year-old from a training camp in Cecina (Livorno) with Team Acqua & Sapone, the team in which he should turn professional. His younger brother, Simone, also races and desires to become a professional.

"My dad wishes that I complete my studies [in motor science]. Even this year, he asked me to take a course to try to enter into the field of medicine. I did not do it because if I passed I would have to bid farewell to the bike."

Logic would have it that if DI Luca and others have been suspended for frequenting the doctor then Davide and Simone should also be suspended. "You're kidding," was his response when posed the question in the interview. "But this is something that many have said. I hope that they leave me to follow my dream, which is to be a racer. I don't have fear of all the anti-doping controls that I will have to do."