Pozzato Discussion Thread

[mr. tibbs]

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.

In that interview posted on VN (and linked somewhere in this thread or the Flanders thread), Pippo said he did what he could to shell Tommeke on the Paterberg, but he was on the rivet himself.

It's good to see both him and Ballan in such form, though. Too bad we've lost Cancellara, cuz I'd love to see a showdown between him, Boonen, Pippo, Ballan, and Sagan next Sunday.

 

[Mellow Velo]

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.

How was that the right thing?
Worst case scenario, he finishes second, as opposed to where he actually finished..............second.

 

[boomcie]

In that interview posted on VN (and linked somewhere in this thread or the Flanders thread), Pippo said he did what he could to shell Tommeke on the Paterberg, but he was on the rivet himself.
...

Yeah, Pozzato looked like he had something left in the tank on the Paterberg, but then again he always looks like that. He barely ever has a grimace on his face.

 

[eljimberino]

How was that the right thing?

With Ballan there he might have finished first.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Is it me or has he started tweeting more in english? lol
http://www.pippopozzato.it/

 

[Angliru]

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.

I think in an interview he said that he tried but he was at his limit. Had he tried any harder he was probably fearful he would've gone in the red.

 

[Angliru]

How was that the right thing?
Worst case scenario, he finishes second, as opposed to where he actually finished..............second.

On second thought I'm going to have to agree with you. Pipo should've tried at least one dig immediately after Boonen had responded to one of Ballan's attack, right after Boonen had reeled Ballan in. Boonen though seemed quite confident that he was feeling capable of responding to anything the 2 of them were throwing at him. He may have been weaker on the climbs but on the flats and against the wind that is element.

 

[movingtarget]

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.

Yes Roubaix should be good with Pozzato back in form and Ballan going strong with Boonen. Maybe Hushovd and Flecha will show something as well as O'Grady. But they will have the same problem again. Lose Boonen or ride for second place.

 

[Polyarmour]

On second thought I'm going to have to agree with you. Pipo should've tried at least one dig immediately after Boonen had responded to one of Ballan's attack, right after Boonen had reeled Ballan in. Boonen though seemed quite confident that he was feeling capable of responding to anything the 2 of them were throwing at him. He may have been weaker on the climbs but on the flats and against the wind that is element.

Pippo thought he could outsprint Boonen.
In retrospect a flawed strategy but that is obviously what he thought.
I too was fully expecting the old one/two on Boonen and I think it probably had a moderate chance of success.
"I feared that they would kill me" is what Boonen thought so he was worried about it too.
You don't always make the best decisions when you're on the rivet.

 

[Wallace]

On second thought I'm going to have to agree with you. Pipo should've tried at least one dig immediately after Boonen had responded to one of Ballan's attack, right after Boonen had reeled Ballan in. Boonen though seemed quite confident that he was feeling capable of responding to anything the 2 of them were throwing at him. He may have been weaker on the climbs but on the flats and against the wind that is element.

But now that we know (from the post-race interviews) that Pipo and Ballan were working together, we know that Pozzato couldn't attack--that was Ballan's role. Ballan's only chance of a win was to leave Boonen behind, so he made all those attacks, which Boonen had to cover, in the hope that either Ballan would get away or that the drain of covering his attacks would take some of the power out of his sprint so that in the end Pozzato would beat him. That neither tactic worked explains why Boonen didn't take long pulls (if he had, Ballan could have relaxed, and jetted away when Boonen flagged) and also, I think, seriously lessens the odds of Pozzato winning next Sunday. Even worked over by the two of them, not at his absolute best, and having gear problems, Boonen had no problem dusting Pipo at the line. This was Pozzato's best chance to beat Tom, and it didn't happen.

 

[Angliru]

But now that we know (from the post-race interviews) that Pipo and Ballan were working together, we know that Pozzato couldn't attack--that was Ballan's role. Ballan's only chance of a win was to leave Boonen behind, so he made all those attacks, which Boonen had to cover, in the hope that either Ballan would get away or that the drain of covering his attacks would take some of the power out of his sprint so that in the end Pozzato would beat him. That neither tactic worked explains why Boonen didn't take long pulls (if he had, Ballan could have relaxed, and jetted away when Boonen flagged) and also, I think, seriously lessens the odds of Pozzato winning next Sunday. Even worked over by the two of them, not at his absolute best, and having gear problems, Boonen had no problem dusting Pipo at the line. This was Pozzato's best chance to beat Tom, and it didn't happen.

I missed the problem with his gears. Was that included in a cn interview?

 

[Nick C.]

I missed the problem with his gears. Was that included in a cn interview?

yeah. I forget which one but he describes it skipping in the 25 and 23 so he had to use the 21 which probably explains him flagging a bit on the Paterberg.

 

[Michele]

Pippo thought he could outsprint Boonen.
In retrospect a flawed strategy but that is obviously what he thought.
I too was fully expecting the old one/two on Boonen and I think it probably had a moderate chance of success.
"I feared that they would kill me" is what Boonen thought so he was worried about it too.
You don't always make the best decisions when you're on the rivet.

Right after the race he said he saw Boonen being tired and thought he could outsprint him, but by seeing how he closed the gap immediately on each attack from Ballan, he should have changed strategy.

 

[Wallace]

Right after the race he said he saw Boonen being tired and thought he could outsprint him, but by seeing how he closed the gap immediately on each attack from Ballan, he should have changed strategy.

Except that he and Ballan had agreed on the strategy--if he'd attacked, he also would have been attacking Ballan. Maybe Pozzato's chances would have been better if the finale was everyman for himself, but once the two Italians had agreed on a plan, Pozzato had to stick to his part.

 

[Angliru]

yeah. I forget which one but he describes it skipping in the 25 and 23 so he had to use the 21 which probably explains him flagging a bit on the Paterberg.

Thanks!

 

[profff]

you must consider that pozzato is a very classy and elegant rider.
he never looks at the limit, even when he is digging very hard.
he is exactly the opposite of voeckler

in consequence of that, it seems that pozzato is not doing everything he can, but sometimes that it is not true.

i do not like his attitude very often, but seeing pippo pedaling it really unbelievable, a real show.

 

[El Pistolero]

you must consider that pozzato is a very classy and elegant rider.
he never looks at the limit, even when he is digging very hard.
he is exactly the opposite of voeckler

in consequence of that, it seems that pozzato is not doing everything he can, but sometimes that it is not true.

i do not like his attitude very often, but seeing pippo pedaling it really unbelievable, a real show.

He has style on the bike, that's for sure. Hard to think of a cyclist who looks better on the bike than Pozzato.

 

[mewmewmew13]

I would have loved to see Pippo surge at the end a bit more...I was rooting for him ftw there...
but in his defense, when I watched the finish again and again it really looked to me in that sprint that his legs couldn't do more and he had nothing left.

 

[42x16ss]

I would have loved to see Pippo surge at the end a bit more...I was rooting for him ftw there...
but in his defense, when I watched the finish again and again it really looked to me in that sprint that his legs couldn't do more and he had nothing left.

Agreed - it looked like he gave it everything he had on the last ascent of the Paterburg.

 

[greenedge]

He did well to overcome the adversity to come 2nd. I wanted him to attack ( as his sprint has deteriorated ) but he probably felt he may have cooked Boonen.

 

[Parrulo]

you must consider that pozzato is a very classy and elegant rider.
he never looks at the limit, even when he is digging very hard.
he is exactly the opposite of voeckler

in consequence of that, it seems that pozzato is not doing everything he can, but sometimes that it is not true.

i do not like his attitude very often, but seeing pippo pedaling it really unbelievable, a real show.

that's one of the reasons why i like pippo, he just rides so smoothly even on the cobbles it's amazing, no cyclist in the peloton can even compare to him on that department

 

[Offtheback]

I've been trying to forget that ad!

But I guess he hasn't fogot the $$$$$ he received to pay off his mortgage.. just saying

 

[Nikoloz]

Roger De Vlaeminck: "He’s (Pozzato) beautiful to watch on a bike"

I agree...

he is elegance rider...


good luck tomorrow...

 

[hfer07]

He has style on the bike, that's for sure. Hard to think of a cyclist who looks better on the bike than Pozzato.

I agree - but damn style won't win the races for him- there is the pain barrier he must cross beyond his beautiful style if he wants to write his name in cycling history

 

[movingtarget]

I agree - but damn style won't win the races for him- there is the pain barrier he must cross beyond his beautiful style if he wants to write his name in cycling history

The fact that he still considers sprinting with Boonen as reasonable makes you query his tactical sense. He never seems to consider going solo which is what he has to do. He has the strength but maybe not the self belief.