Pozzato Discussion Thread

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Jun 7, 2011
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Yeah if the paterberg was a little bit longer then the gap he opened on Boonen may have been enough so that boonen couldnt get back on to his wheel. Once they got on the flat roads then Boonen has enough power to chase down most moves. In Roubaix Pozzato is going to have to attack boonen when he is blocked by other riders or when he isnt paying attention. Should be a good race.
 
roundabout said:
Yes and then he thought he is going to beat Boonen in the sprint...

If there was in fact a headwind, he did the best that he could. He likely hoped that by letting Boonen respond to each of Ballan's attacks that it would weaken Boonen enough to allow Pipo to best Boonen in the sprint.
 
Jul 16, 2010
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rhubroma said:
Was it that bad? The Italian commentary made no mention of it. And they are usually pretty thorough.

Mistake on their part then :p

Wind was a big factor in the final 13km. Big reason why Pozzato put everything on his sprint. Solo would have been suicide and he has beaten Boonen before in the sprint, so why not try...
 
Mar 26, 2009
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El Pistolero said:
Mistake on their part then :p

Wind was a big factor in the final 13km. Big reason why Pozzato put everything on his sprint. Solo would have been suicide and he has beaten Boonen before in the sprint, so why not try...

If it was a long fast sprint, a tired rider might come short, but in a short sprint (like a 3 men) the chances are not much.
 
Pozzato: ‘I’m first of the idiots’ at Flanders
http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/04/news/pozzato-im-first-of-the-idiots-at-flanders_211770

OUDENAARDE, Belgium (VN) — Italians Filippo Pozzato and Alessandro Ballan were short of options to beat Tom Boonen in the Tour of Flanders Sunday. Pozzato failed with a sprint and Ballan failed with his multiple late attacks.

“Second place. What can I say? I’m the first of the idiots,” Pozzato said. “I’m not happy with it.”

Ballan (BMC Racing), the 2007 Flanders winner, attacked free on the third and final pass of the Oude Kwaremont, 17 kilometers from the finish. Pozzato (Farnese Vini-Selle Italia) closed down the gap to Ballan by the end of the flat cobbled section at the top of the climb, but when he looked around, he had Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) in tow.

Boonen won the race in 2005 and 2006. Today, he took victory number three and matched the wins record held by Achiel Buysse, Fiorenzo Magni, Eric Leman and Johan Museeuw.

As the three riders ripped through a strong headwind toward the finish, a half-minute up on the chasing peloton, Pozzato and Ballan spoke in Italian, in fact in their local dialect as they are both from Veneto. They knew they would be better off without Boonen, who won E3 Harelbeke and Ghent-Wevelgem in the last week.

Winning his second Ronde wasn’t the only thing on Ballan’s mind, however. In the last week, he learned he might go on trial as part of a doping investigation and flew home from Belgium when his father-in-law died.

“Fifteen years after losing my own father. My whole family wanted me to do something today,” he said.

“I knew I was going well and during the week I concentrated to start as BMC’s leader. The last time up the Kwaremont, I wanted to take off solo, but at the top, I took Pippo and Boonen… I was hoping that Tom would fall off the pace, it would have been great to just have two Italians going into the final.”

The trio started the final Paterberg climb with 10 seconds. Boonen at one point seemed to be struggling, but at the top, he was still with his rivals.

“I was at my limit on the last time up Paterberg, there was no way of dropping him then,” Pozzato explained. “I had maybe three or four meters, but that’s it. I couldn’t continue to go with it like that.”

After the Paterberg, the trio shot downhill and faced nine kilometers on the flat.

“I told Alessandro, let’s get rid of Tom,” Pozzato added. “In fact, every time, I forced Tom to close the gap to Alessandro’s attacks.”

“It was useless for them to try with the headwind,” Boonen said afterwards. “Besides, I was not going to let them go. When Ballan went two or three times, I was on his wheel straight away and waiting for Pozzato to try.”

Boonen marked all three of Ballan’s attacks and sprinted clear of Pozzato.

“I tried to stay on Tom’s wheel until the last moment to save myself for the sprint,” Pozzato said. “When I came off his wheel, though, there was nothing I could do.”

In nearly 100 years, the race has only gone in favor of an Italian 10 times, Ballan being the last. With Boonen on top form — and benefitting from a friendly wind — Ballan and Pozzato simply weren’t capable of ticking the eleventh.
 
Jun 21, 2009
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Pozzato...still the Pottato...

Peeled, cut and deep fried by Boom-en.

Looked good for a few long metres but Tommeke is just too good this spring.

Ballan surpises me by bowing out so soon.

Great race altogether.
 
Jan 27, 2011
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Mellow Velo said:
He was so strong, but got it all wrong.
When he had Boonan's wheel, 3kms out and Tom was having to mark Ballan's attacks, why on earth didn't he take the jump?

Heavy headwind, I can only see that as the only reason he didn't.
 
Mellow Velo said:
He was so strong, but got it all wrong.
When he had Boonan's wheel, 3kms out and Tom was having to mark Ballan's attacks, why on earth didn't he take the jump?

Yep, Boonen stated to the media that they never really had a chance with the strong headwind they faced in the finishing straight. Pozzato said that's why he kept letting Boonen respond to Ballan's attacks, hoping it would tire him out but Boonen was too strong. I think that's why Pozzato never attacked and waited to the last meters to attempt to come around Boonen.
 
RESPECT!!!! Best race I've seen him ride in quite a while. Attacked on the climbs, worked hard with the break to stay away, just came up a bit short in the sprint. But with the headwind what other choice did he have?

All in all a ride to back up his words of not wasting his talent anymore...Go Pippo!!!!
 
Sep 30, 2009
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Carols said:
RESPECT!!!! Best race I've seen him ride in quite a while. Attacked on the climbs, worked hard with the break to stay away, just came up a bit short in the sprint. But with the headwind what other choice did he have?

All in all a ride to back up his words of not wasting his talent anymore...Go Pippo!!!!

+1

Pozzato earned my respect with that ride.

Forza Pippo!
 
Jun 16, 2009
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Pippo earnt some respect with that rider because he didn't just suck Boonen's wheel but I think he should have pushed a lot harder on the final climb of the Paterberg to put Boonen under pressure. He has changed, I will give him that.
 
Mellow Velo said:
He was so strong, but got it all wrong.
When he had Boonan's wheel, 3kms out and Tom was having to mark Ballan's attacks, why on earth didn't he take the jump?

I agree, should have had a go at least once, maybe the one two with Ballan, may have tired Boonen further.

Good ride by Ballan, well done for having a go.

Hugh
 
Mar 10, 2009
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What about Pozatto's BMC comment, its coming true so far, its as if he's reading the forum :D

Great racing by all! But why didn't Pozatto counter attack to attempt to dislodge Boonen? They talked about it but only Ballan attacked. I know its over with but would of been fun to see them both attacking Boonen, forcing Boonen to reel in the attacker every time.
 
Dec 14, 2009
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i think if pozzato attempted to attack with say 3-5km to go he might have isolated ballan and then potentially been left to try to beat boonen alone. my opinion is he did the right thing. respect to ballan for setting it up for pozzato unselfishly.