By Tim Maloney, European Editor
"Yes, after I came back from Japan it was supposed to be over; it was a good trip and I even won there. But when I came home, they had already organized this goodbye day for me." The diminutive (1m69cm / 56km) Pontoni explained in his distinctive, high piping voice about his long love affair with cyclocross, saying, "the art of cyclocross is to find your balance. It's a fusion between man, bicycle and the terrain... cyclocross is a little bit of all of it. The bicycle is a constant, as for the man, it depends on his form and the terrain is always changing. It can change not only day by day but also lap by lap during the race. You always have to find the right way to go, kind of like a surfer who finds the perfect spot on the wave." After his great career, Pontoni sees Enrico Franzoi as the inheritor of his mantle of top Italian cyclocross rider.
"Franzoi has it all... I've never seen a young rider that was so strong. But he has a lot to learn and have more discipline in the races. But (new coach) Erik DeVlaeminck will be the right coach to help him."