Cuengo has gastroenteritis or Mantova-induced fear.

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Cuengo has gastroenteritis or Mantova-induced fear.

Little Prince has tummy ache.

Is Lampre -Farnese Vini star Damiano Cunego really suffering from gastroenteritis or is it something more ordinary, like nerves, fear, foreboding?

Does he have this season’s most popular peloton malady or is he freaked out of his mind that the Mantova doping investigation will soon have him in deep doo-doo?

Hard to say and we’re making no claims either way. We just couldn’t help notice the natural coincidence: drug investigation, rider’s stomach tied in knots worried about suspension.

These things happen and you never know where things will lead. The aftermath of Operation Puerto still unfold, stupidly, bizarrely and glacially. Some riders like Ivan Basso were sanctioned years ago while Cheat Number 1, Alejandro Valverde rides on despite overwhelming evidence and a CAS ruling against him.

Considering the close ties between the Lampre team doctors and Guido Nigrelli, the pharmacist at the center of the investigation, one would expect Cunego to be a tad concerned. His Giro participation might hang in the balance.

He also knows Montova could plunge the Lampre team into serious trouble.  Innocent or not, the avalanche of bad publicity would give anyone an upset tummy.

The wiki says says gastroenteritis can be transferred by contact with contaminated food and water — or in this particular case, a full scale raid by Italian narcotics police.

The acute symptoms include fever, headaches, abdominal flatulence (which means the Little prince is farting big time), fainting and weakness and bloody stool. Not somebody you want in the team bus, that’s for sure.

So here’s wishing the Daminao Cueno a swift recovery and his Lampre team good luck. Innocent until proven guilty is the golden rule. Still, what exactly is Damiano worried about?

By |2019-02-03T16:29:39-08:00April 14th, 2010|Doping, Giro d'Italia|6 Comments

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6 Comments

  1. rdef April 15, 2010 at 2:01 am - Reply

    PLEASE re-read your own writing for spelling and grammar errors. "Cuengo" in the headline?? "Daminao Cueno" later???

  2. rdef April 15, 2010 at 2:03 am - Reply

    Don't get me wrong, I love your blog, just don't make it painful to read.

    • walshworld April 15, 2010 at 5:32 am - Reply

      Hey, I tried to get my wife to do the job but no go. Sorry about that. Given my family responsabilities and work stuff I often have to write fast and revise as I go. Thanks for sticking with me. I hope to cut down on the typos but we're also moving. Been crazy.

  3. Kelly April 15, 2010 at 2:18 am - Reply

    take a chill pill rdef.

    What's a few typos amongst friends?

    • walshworld April 15, 2010 at 1:33 pm - Reply

      Thanks Kelly. I am trying to reduce the number. I write fast and often have to throw whatever I can together before the wife complains about me and my time consuming blog.

  4. The Dude April 15, 2010 at 12:24 pm - Reply

    Spelling is overrated, don't sweat it, in fact misspell everything and the complaints will stop soon after.

    Good blog post (or is it news story?).

    In conclusion Damiano is worried about testing positive as the UCI now knows what to look out for, that's probably another reason besides his shart issue he's not racing.

    PS: Valverde is innocent! Well till tests positive. Remember if we test all the blood samples and old test samples more riders will be banned, some are rather famous around the USA and contribute handsomely to the testing program (can you say conflict of interest?).

    PS2: I liked the old site's skin better.

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