Davide Viganò hails from Carate Brianza, near Milan, and among his neighbours, when he was growing up, was Gianni Bugno. Bugno was the top Italian cyclist of the early 1990s: a double world champion, and winner of the country's national tour, the Giro d'Italia, in which he wore the famous 'maglia rosa' (pink jersey) of race leader from start to finish.

It is no wonder, then, that he was a hero to the young Viganò, who began cycling when he was eight years old. That was the year when Bugno won his second world title with a sprint finish of the kind that Viganò is now trying to perfect. In fact, a bit like his hero, Viganò is a good all-round rider with a strong finish. As he puts it: "I'm fast in the sprints, and okay on the climbs."

Viganò turned professional in 2005 with Quickstep, spending four seasons with the Belgian team before moving to Fuji-Servetto for the 2009 season. He started two Grand Tours - the Giro and Vuelta - for the Spanish team and went close to a stage win in both, placing fourth on stage seven of the Giro, and fourth again on stage six of the Vuelta. He also managed a total of five top ten finishes during the Giro.

Yet Viganò is unusual, for an Italian, in preferring the Tour de France to his country's national tour. "I would prefer to ride the Tour because my condition is better in July than in May, when the Giro is on," he admits.

Still looking for his first win as a professional, Viganò says he would love to achieve that in Sky colours, to repay the faith shown in him by his new team. "I was consistent in 2009 and I would like to win in 2010. I feel that I am at the start of my career."

So he has time to emulate his hero, Bugno? "He was a big, big rider," smiles Viganò. "I would love to be near to his level."