95th Ronde van Vlaanderen - April 3 2011

[L'arriviste]

If you watch cycling you get to hate Pozzato. Nothing to do with the commentators. He always sucks wheels, and does litteraly nothing else. He's an overpaid cyclist who hasn't gotten a big win since 2006.

2007 -
Tour stage
2009 - GP E3

 

[The Hitch]

Yeah, Italians hate Pozzato

Yeah. Priceless.

 

[El Pistolero]

Yeah. Priceless.

They actually do. Gets a lot of criticism in Italy.

Gilbert is actually more popular in Italy than Pozzato.

 

[The Hitch]

If you watch cycling you get to hate Pozzato. Nothing to do with the commentators. He always sucks wheels, and does litteraly nothing else. He's an overpaid cyclist who hasn't gotten a big win since 2006.

Thats a bit harsh. He hasnt won a monument since 2006 so hes overpaid. Very few people have won monuments. At least he has one. ANd hes there or abouts in the big races every year as well as picking up victories at other classics, grand tours national championships etc.

All in all a solid cyclist who produces for his team. Dont see why hes overpaid.

 

[Flamin]

Pozzato is only hated in Belgium. Nowhere else.

I would rather say, just not into his racing approach. Besides that, I and many others have nothing against him. In fact, I think he's a joy to watch. Pure elegance on a bike.

 

[El Pistolero]

Thats a bit harsh. He hasnt won a monument since 2006 so hes overpaid. Very few people have won monuments. At least he has one. ANd hes there or abouts in the big races every year as well as picking up victories at other classics, grand tours national championships etc.

All in all a solid cyclist who produces for his team. Dont see why hes overpaid.

Say that to Tchmil.
What classics wins does he have? Omloop and E3 are semi classics. And I've only seen this guy win one GT stage recently. So ain't picking up many wins there.

 

[spalco]

How can you say Pozzato is overpaid without knowing what he earns. I think he's probably dirt-poor or he wouldn't have to do soft-core porn commercials for SIDI.

 

[Lanark]

He's riding for Katusha, so odds are he is getting overpaid. Even Steegmans earned something like 500/600k Euros at Katusha.

 

[El Pistolero]

How can you say Pozzato is overpaid without knowing what he earns. I think he's probably dirt-poor or he wouldn't have to do soft-core porn commercials for SIDI.

I bet Contador is dirt poor as well.

 

[spalco]

Contador at least kept his clothes on.

 

[The Hitch]

Contador at least kept his clothes on.

Im not sure if Pozzato going commando was really that much less dignifying than Contador playing spin the shoe with Samu and some French mtber in an earlier Sidi commercial.

 

[Lanark]

That's because Contador would be paid less if he took his clothes off (well, Pistolero would like it more probably).

 

[El Pistolero]

That's because Contador would be paid less if he took his clothes off (well, Pistolero would like it more probably).

I don't have to watch cycling ads like you suckers

 

[The Hitch]

I don't have to watch cycling ads like you suckers

You seem to watch them in your spare time though

And if you really want to cringe:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7w_xj73U5Q&feature=related

 

[El Pistolero]

You seem to watch them in your spare time though

That's because I clicked on some youtube link from someone in that thread and it was a cycling ad. In the related videos there was an ad about Pozzato and since we all know Pozzato I knew it was going to be something like that. Hence it was a good joke for the topic.

 

[mr. tibbs]

Thats a bit harsh. He hasnt won a monument since 2006 so hes overpaid. Very few people have won monuments. At least he has one. ANd hes there or abouts in the big races every year as well as picking up victories at other classics, grand tours national championships etc.

All in all a solid cyclist who produces for his team. Dont see why hes overpaid.

I would rather say, just not into his racing approach. Besides that, I and many others have nothing against him. In fact, I think he's a joy to watch. Pure elegance on a bike.

Gotta agree here and stick up for Pippo. Though he didn't win, his second place at Roubaix in 2009 was the result of a very strong ride. And holding off the Milram train at MSR in 2006 was impressive. I've been hoping for a return to that form, and this may be the year.

I will agree somewhat with Pistolero in that he's out of his league compared to guys like Cancellara, Boonen, and Gilbert—but that makes it all the more impressive that he’s able to hang with them as well as he does. He’s the Tommy V of the stones (when Tommy V isn’t being the Tommy V of the stones).

And wheelsucking? I’d like to point out that, in addition to blaming Pippo for a loss, Gilbert has also blamed a race’s parcours. (Gent-Wevelgem.) Calling Pippo a wheel sucker for chasing down Gilbert at MSR is like calling Cavendish a wheel sucker for chasing down Haussler two years ago. Pippo was going for the win, and it turned out that neither he nor Gilbert had the strength to get it. Ditto for GW. If Gilbert were stronger, he could have won both races. But he wasn’t, so he didn’t.

Having said all that, I'm still hoping for a Tommeke win on Sunday.

 

[El Pistolero]

Gotta agree here and stick up for Pippo. Though he didn't win, his second place at Roubaix in 2009 was the result of a very strong ride. And holding off the Milram train at MSR in 2006 was impressive. I've been hoping for a return to that form, and this may be the year.

I will agree somewhat with Pistolero in that he's out of his league compared to guys like Cancellara, Boonen, and Gilbert—but that makes it all the more impressive that he’s able to hang with them as well as he does. He’s the Tommy V of the stones (when Tommy V isn’t being the Tommy V of the stones).

And wheelsucking? I’d like to point out that, in addition to blaming Pippo for a loss, Gilbert has also blamed a race’s parcours. (Gent-Wevelgem.) Calling Pippo a wheel sucker for chasing down Gilbert at MSR is like calling Cavendish a wheel sucker for chasing down Haussler two years ago. Pippo was going for the win, and it turned out that neither he nor Gilbert had the strength to get it. Ditto for GW. If Gilbert were stronger, he could have won both races. But he wasn’t, so he didn’t.

Having said all that, I'm still hoping for a Tommeke win on Sunday.

But I'm not talking about M-SR here. If it was just that then I wouldn't blame him a thing. Sadly it's a bit more then that. Just look at the Worlds last year, kinda disgusting to be honest.

He just said G-W wasn't selective enough for him, I fail to see how he was wrong in saying that?

 

[will10]

Pozzato is a wheelsucker, no doubt. Strange really considering how successful he is when he really sticks his nose in the wind and gives it some (Giro stage last year, MSR 2006 etc...)

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Pozzato's main problem is that he has one 'cartouche' less than guys as Cancellara, Gilbert, Boonen...

Where they can go a 2nd/3rd/4th time, Pozzato can't

 

[El Pistolero]

Pozzato's main problem is that he has one 'cartouche' less than guys as Cancellara, Gilbert, Boonen...

Where they can go a 2nd/3rd/4th time, Pozzato can't

I'm pretty sure that with different tactics Pozzato could have won a lot more.

Squinzi, who pulled Pozzato and CANCELLARA out of the junior rank to race with the Mapei wonder team, said he had an incredible engine. He doesn't lack talent, he lacks a brain.

 

[Archibald]

Contador at least kept his clothes on.

he can afford steak for dinner, so he can't be that bad off...




I'll get me coat...

 

[luckyboy]

Gilbert has also blamed a race’s parcours. (Gent-Wevelgem.)

G-W wasn't hard enough/was too flat at the end.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

I'm pretty sure that with different tactics Pozzato could have won a lot more.

Squinzi, who pulled Pozzato and CANCELLARA out of the junior rank to race with the Mapei wonder team, said he had an incredible engine. He doesn't lack talent, he lacks a brain.

he lacks the mind and courage of a champion, he doesn't want to hurt himself enough I always feel, there comes the difference with a gilbert who may be less talented but a way bigger rider.

pozzato could also be compared to di luca in his early years. di luca would drop in the mountains because he wouldn't dig deep into himself. he once said "I'm too pretty to suffer."

 

[luckyboy]

And my stomach will be filled out by Duvel

.......

 

[pedaling squares]

Calling Pippo a wheel sucker for chasing down Gilbert at MSR is like calling Cavendish a wheel sucker for chasing down Haussler two years ago. Pippo was going for the win, and it turned out that neither he nor Gilbert had the strength to get it. Ditto for GW. If Gilbert were stronger, he could have won both races. But he wasn’t, so he didn’t.

Having said all that, I'm still hoping for a Tommeke win on Sunday.

I agree. Was he supposed to watch Gilbert ride away from him? He's seen that movie before. It's racing, he just didn't have enough to pass him once he caught on. He took some heat in PR 2010 too but I thought he was far too shattered to attack. Geelong however, he sucked for real. I'd like to see FP play a role on Sunday but I can't see him matching legs with the top 3-4 guys.