Pozzato down but not out
Filippo Pozzato missed repeating his 2007 win in the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on Saturday in Gent,...
Filippo Pozzato missed repeating his 2007 win in the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on Saturday in Gent, Belgium, due to a crash in the final 100 metres of the one-day race, won by Thor Hushovd.
"I would have won today," the Italian Katusha rider told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "I started at 200 metres out and had passed Hushovd when [Sebastian] Langeveld moved and bumped my handlebars."
Langeveld apologised to Pozzato for the manoeuvre that came at the end of the 204.5-kilometre race. Pozzato was disappointed because he felt ready to challenge alongside favourite Tom Boonen and last year's winner Philippe Gilbert, which he claimed was harder than the edition he won two years ago.
Pozzato will seek revenge in the Eroica one-day race this Saturday in Siena, Italy. He will then have another chance in the Tirreno-Adriatico (winner in 2003) and the Milano-Sanremo (winner in 2006).
"Unfortunately victory at Het Volk [renamed Omloop Het Nieuwsblad this year - ed.] slipped away as it did in the Trofeo Laigueglia. I have confidence going into the coming races; I will win something of importance."
It will be the third edition of the Montepaschi Strade Bianche - Eroica Toscana. The race is held on le strade bianche (white gravel roads) roads in and around the Tuscan city of Siena. The Tirreno-Adriatico, March 11 to 17, comes in the next week as a lead-up for Milano-Sanremo, March 21.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Thank you for reading 5 articles in the past 30 days*
Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read any 5 articles for free in each 30-day period, this automatically resets
After your trial you will be billed £4.99 $7.99 €5.99 per month, cancel anytime. Or sign up for one year for just £49 $79 €59
Join now for unlimited access
Try your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Most Popular
By Laura Weislo