He then endured a dryer spell where he further acclimatised to regular top level competition before finishing an impressive second to Damiano Cunego at the end of season classic Giro di Lombardia.
At the Deutschland Tour he was in a breakaway with eventual stage winner Damiano Cunego when he flew down over a mountain stream and smashed into a retaining wall.
Damiano Damiani | Damiano Cunego | Damiano Caruso | Damiano Vannucci | San Damiano d'Asti | San Damiano, Assisi | San Damiano Air Base | San Damiano | Piacenza-San Damiano Air Base | Pedro Damiano | Jennifer Damiano |
He finished the 2006 UCI ProTour in 38th place with 69 points, the third highest ranked Lampre-Fondital rider behind Alessandro Ballan and Damiano Cunego.