Amstel Gold: Cunego Breaks Through as Fleche, Liege Lurk

Damiano Cunego finally got a win in a early season classic, with his Amstel Gold win on Sunday. "Il Piccolo Principe" showed himself to be a rider to watch for 2008 at the Klasica Primivera, and confirmed his good form again on Sunday with the win in Holland. Cunego now is a favorite for the upcoming Liege-Bastogne-Liege race his Sunday, as the characteristics of the world's oldest classic play to some of Cunego's biggest strenghts.

Other riders looking good heading into the remaining hilly classics include Davide Rebellin, who placed a respectable fourth at the Amstel, and Frank Schleck, who was right there at the end but didn't have a sprint to compare with Cunego in the finale. Rabobank's Thomas Dekker looked good coming in fifth, and the youngster may have a better time of things at the Fleche Wallone race on Wednesday.

This year's Amstel confirmed what most already know: the Wallonian classics will be won by good climbers, not sprinters. Erik Zabel and Oscar Freire were both over a minute off the winning pace, confirming the fact that the upcoming races are not for those that can't ascend.

Cunego used his sprint to take the Amstel Gold race in his first try

The Fleche Wallone on Wednesday will give Cunego another chance at some serious early season hardware, and Sunday's Liege-Bastogne-Liege is well-suited to the small 26 year old Italian climber as well. Best of all, the pressure is now off for Cunego as he has a classic under his belt ahead of his bigger targets for the year. Cunego will have sky-high morale heading into Wednesday's race, and his experiences in the coming week will help him at the Tour de France this July. 2008 should continue to be a good year for Damiano, as the Italian continues to improve in all types of cycling races.