Filippo Pozzato's march to a gold medal at the World Championships in Australia takes a big step forward at the Vattenfall Cyclassics today in Hamburg, Germany. The Italian will attempt to repeat his 2005 win to ensure the national team he is on the gold medal path.
"The ideal way would be able to jump clear with a small group on the final time up the Waseberg climb, just to avoid a group sprint," Pozzato told La Gazzetta dello sport. "It happened more or less that way in 2005, when I won the photo finish ahead of my friend, Luca Paolini."
Including the 2005 Vattenfall Cyclassics win, Pozzato has won the two stages of the Tour de France and the Milano-Sanremo. However, he has never led the Italian national team at the World Championships. Last year, he rode in support of Damiano Cunego in Mendrisio, Switzerland.
Making the trip to Geelong, Australia, will depend on Italy's new national sports director, Paolo Bettini. Bettini won the title twice as a rider – Salzburg 2006 and Stuttgart 2007 – and, following the death of Franco Ballerini earlier this year, took over the post as director.
Last month, he inspected the course along with Pozzato. It is supposed to suit the sprinters and possibly the attackers.
"I will refer to you to Bettini for any talks about of the team and its strategies," Pozzato continued.
"Certainly, if one wants to be the team captain he has to get results, starting in with Hamburg and on through the Vuelta a España. Keep in mind that the Worlds comes one week later this year [two weeks after the Vuelta - ed.].
"There are two short climbs and the wind could be a factor [in Geelong]. If you can't keep up at the front then you won't arrive for the sprint."
Pozzato sprinted to victory at the Giro d'Italia in Porto Recanati this year after forming part of small escape group on the final Potenza Picena climb. It was his one and only win of the season.
"One win is not much, but you have to take into account that I was sick before Flanders. Despite this, I returned and finished in the front group at Paris-Roubaix [seventh - ed.]. At the Giro, I had a great stage win, but just missed another. Afterwards, I unplugged and took a rest. The beautiful thing is the best of my season is yet to come, it is as if it were January."