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Suspense and surprise sparkled in this year's Giro d'Italia, confounding the experts who had bemoaned the absence of top stars before the race got underway. The tifosi's new hero, 22-year-old Damiano Cunego, thwarted his Saeco team captain, defending Giro champion Gilberto Simoni, who had anticipated making the race his third win in four years. Cunego dazzled fellow bicyclists and countrymen with his attacking style and perseverance in the mountains. Claiming a two-minute lead in the final standings, Cunego became the Giro's youngest winner since 1979. Simoni placed a surprising third, behind Ukrainian veteran Serhiy Honchar. The Verona-born Cunego arrived at the Giro expecting to assist Simoni, but after the seventh stage he captured the pink jersey. He faltered on the way to Trieste, but regained control in the Dolomite mountains and held a simple lead in the final two mountain stages. Sprinter Alessandro Petacchi also wowed the crowds, setting a new Giro record of nine stage wins. See his lightning-quick charge at the race's end, and watch fresh-faced, versatile Cunego command a Giro full of excitement