Domenico Pozzovivo appreciation thread

[Rob5091]

Pozzovivo does dell.Emillia and il Lombardia and that's it folks!

https://cyclinguptodate.com/cycling...-to-continue-would-be-like-asking-for-trouble

Domenico Pozzovivo will leave professional cycling at the end of this season 2024. He will do so wearing the colors of VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè and racing two of the mythical races in his country as the classic Giro dell'Emilia and the monument Il Lombardia. It will be on October 12, a month and a half before his 42nd birthday.

"The reasons I am retiring are clearly my age and the risk associated with cycling. To continue would be like asking for trouble. However, I don't lack enthusiasm or excitement for cycling. It never happens to me that I don't feel like getting on the bike or that I'm dragging because I have to train. I always want to train and compete," Pozzovivo told Bici.Pro. "I'm looking forward to racing the Giro dell'Emilia and the Giro di Lombardia. In 2022, I got on the podium at the Giro dell'Emilia (3rd), after fighting with Tadej Pogacar. As for the Giro di Lombardia, it's the classic I like the most and the one that fascinates me the most. I would love to have a good result there."

 

[Gratemans]

I'm gonna miss that tiny bow-legged dude. Must have been one of the most recognizable riders. Quite an impressive career overall and a pretty nice guy I always thought.

 

[Squire]

If anyone had deserved a fluke Giro win or at least a podium, it's this guy. But I guess he was always just one step below the required level, unfortunately. I thought 2012 could be his year when he looked awesome on the Passo Giau. Wonder if it would have been different if the contenders didn't just ride around holding hands while Purito ran away in the final km in that Giro.

 

[staubsauger]

If anyone had deserved a fluke Giro win or at least a podium, it's this guy. But I guess he was always just one step below the required level, unfortunately. I thought 2012 could be his year when he looked awesome on the Passo Giau. Wonder if it would have been different if the contenders didn't just ride around holding hands while Purito ran away in the final km in that Giro.

Pozzo peaked to early in 2012. If he had his Punta Veleno shape up towards the Stelvio he might have won the Giro d'Italia!

Same goes if Rujano had gotten his act together. He really would have been able to win that 2012 Giro d'Italia!

In defense to Pozzovivo & Rujano they couldn't have known that all big guns mess up their preparation. Rujano after had some kind of illness after all

 

[TourOfSardinia]

In action today

 

[Rob5091]

After 6th place on Wednesday, back again on Saturday for Memorial Marco Pantani. Not bad for a guy who's 42 in November.

 

[Tour_de_Calvados]

Pozzo peaked to early in 2012. If he had his Punta Veleno shape up towards the Stelvio he might have won the Giro d'Italia!

Same goes if Rujano had gotten his act together. He really would have been able to win that 2012 Giro d'Italia!

In defense to Pozzovivo & Rujano they couldn't have known that all big guns mess up their preparation. Rujano after had some kind of illness after all

That Punta Veleno stage was epic, Pozzovivo looked unbeatable that day. Also featured Basso hilariously taking a wrong turn at the foot of the climb IIRC. That climb needs to be in the Giro, not sure why they never went there?

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Everybody talk about 2012, but he was flying in 2015 when he crashed out, and was possibly better in 2018 than he was in 2012. Just a stronger field. First giro was 2005. Incredible longevity

 

[Mayomaniac]

Everybody talk about 2012, but he was flying in 2015 when he crashed out, and was possibly better in 2018 than he was in 2012. Just a stronger field. First giro was 2005. Incredible longevity

The one reason why he didn't podium in 2018 is Finestre, that climb is really bad for his climbing style, at least the sterrato half. He is always standing, riding a big gear and his body is so far forward that he'd dragging the pedals behind. He pretty much always looses traction on his rear wheel in the long run and wastes way more energy than the rest.

Not sure about 2015, he had a heavy racing schedule during that spring (at least for him) and if anyone was going to get sick during the rainly first 2 week of that Giro it's him. That crash looked horrible.

 

[Squire]

Everybody talk about 2012, but he was flying in 2015 when he crashed out, and was possibly better in 2018 than he was in 2012. Just a stronger field. First giro was 2005. Incredible longevity

Yeah, in 2018 he was great, and mainly got screwed by the Finestre stage. Should absolutely have been a podium otherwise. 2012 was still his best chance at winning though.

His 2015 build-up wasn't that different from most other years, so I'm not sure. Contador, Landa and Aru would have been no joke to go up against in that Giro. In his peak years he had pretty much exactly the same results in the spring races every year, 2016 being a noteably more lacklustre season. Some early-season warmup, then top 10-ish in Tirreno which mostly didn't suit him, sometimes a good showing in Catalunya, the usual beast shape in Trentino followed with consistently exceeding expectations in Liege.

 

[tobydawq]

The one reason why he didn't podium in 2018 is Finestre, that climb is really bad for his climbing style, at least the sterrato half. He is always standing, riding a big gear and his body is so far forward that he'd dragging the pedals behind. He pretty much always looses traction on his rear wheel in the long run and wastes way more energy than the rest.

Not sure about 2015, he had a heavy racing schedule during that spring (at least for him) and if anyone was going to get sick during the rainly first 2 week of that Giro it's him. That crash looked horrible.

Plus, it also had Finestre

 

[Ilmaestro99]

I'm sorry to all the rational people here but I refuse to believe pozzovico would not be 4th in that 2015 giro without his crash

 

[Squire]

I'm sorry to all the rational people here but I refuse to believe pozzovico would not be 4th in that 2015 giro without his crash

I'm pretty certain he'd be 4th, but that still wouldn't give him the elusive podium.

 

[staubsauger]

Pozzo would've been 3rd behind Contador & Landa!

Aru was absolutely horse crap. About to get dropped by Trofimov. No way Astana can play their game to get him 2nd with an actual contender like Pozzovivo in the race.