Italy's Damiano Cunego said he is likely to form an alliance with fellow former winner Gilberto Simoni against Lance Armstrong and Ivan Basso at the 2009 Giro d'Italia.

"I've spoken to Gilberto about an alliance," Cunego told La Gazzetta dello Sport, adding that his participation in the Giro will be officially announced when some final details are smoothed out.

"Ivan and Lance form a common bloc for their friendship and way of racing. We climbers have to seek a counter-measure. Gilberto knows all the Giro roads better than anyone."

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