Damiano Caruso

Damiano Caruso, born on October 12, 1987, is an Italian professional road cyclist with Team Bahrain Victorious. His career is highlighted by stage victories at both the 2021 Vuelta a España and the 2021 Giro d'Italia, where he finished in second place. Caruso also won the Giro di Sicilia in 2022.

Early Career

Caruso turned professional in 2009, riding for Italian teams including LPR Brakes–Farnese Vini and Liquigas–Cannondale. His career faced a setback in 2011 due to a doping offence from 2007, resulting in a backdated one-year ban and the annulment of his 2011 results.

BMC Racing Team (2015–2018)

Joining BMC Racing Team in 2015, Caruso achieved notable results including a top-10 finish in the Vuelta a España and an eighth place in the Giro d'Italia. He participated in five consecutive editions of the Tour de France during his tenure with BMC.

Team Bahrain Victorious (2019–present)

Caruso's move to Bahrain–Merida (now Bahrain Victorious) in 2019 marked a significant phase in his career, primarily serving as a domestique in Grand Tours. His perseverance paid off in 2021 when he stepped up as team leader following Mikel Landa's withdrawal from the Giro, securing a stage win and finishing second overall. This success was mirrored in the Vuelta a España with a memorable solo stage victory.

In 2022, Caruso celebrated his first senior general classification win at the Giro di Sicilia and continued to perform strongly in other races, such as the Tour de Romandie (6th) and the Critérium du Dauphiné (4th). In the Tour de France, Caruso was co-leader of the team, but had to withdraw in the final week, due to a positive test for COVID-19, marking the first time he did not complete a grand tour.

Caruso's 2023 season was marked by consistent performances, including a fourth-place finish in the general classification of the Giro d'Italia and a strong showing at the Vuelta a España, where he was competitive in breakaways and achieved a second-place stage finish. He showcased his consistency with notable results in Vuelta a Andalucía (7th), Tour de Romandie (3rd) and Giro di Sicilia (10th)