Simoni warns Cunego

On Saturday, Gilberto Simoni embarks on his quest to become the oldest rider ever to win the Giro. Gone are the internal rivalries with former team-mate Damiano Cunego. At 35, it's game on for the native of the mountains of Trentino, now sole leader for a different team - Saunier Duval.

Twice winner of the Giro in 2001 and 2003, Simoni was upstaged by then-Saeco team-mate Cunego on the 2004 Giro.

"Cunego is now a captain on his own and he can't hide behind me anymore," Simoni told the French news agency AFP.

"Last year, Basso and Di Luca wore the pink jersey and they liked the taste of it. Salvodelli? He's a humble guy but he can handle himself. He has Danielson with him, which could be an asset," added Simoni who has earned the endorsement of the Discovery Channel leader as the man to beat on this year's Tour of Italy.

The big surprise in 2005 was the presence on the podium of Selle Italia's Venezuelan José Rujano, who Simoni sees as a potential ally in the grueling final week of this year's Giro:

"I'm expecting him to be an ally in the mountains. He's an attacking rider, who likes to take the bull by its horns, a bit like me."

Despite often fading come July, he insists that he's still interested in riding the Tour de France:

"I would like to take part in the Tour, as there will be a finish at the Alpe d'Huez. I would like to concentrate on that stage. However my Spanish team might prefer me to run in the Vuelta...Right now, my mind is on the Giro."

As for tactics...

"I have to go into this Giro like a crazy man. We'll see if I'm crazy enough to win it."

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