Filippo Pozzato is known as someone with a considerable amount of flair off the bike. Fast cars, faster women, a highlighted perm hairdo and some audacious tattoos. Sounds tacky in parts but, being Italian, he can pull it off with aplomb.
As regards style on the bike, that’s a subject that is still up for discussion. If Philippe Gilbert’s word is taken on the subject, it’s clear that the Katusha rider’s tactics lack flair. “Pozzato’s speciality is to ride to make others lose,” Gibert told Sporza today, clearly frustrated after a foiled bid to take a third consecutive victory in Paris-Tours.
“I had peaks and troughs in the race," he continued, explaining his sensations. "After 60 km I felt terrible, then I recovered well. I tried to attack on the Côte de l'Epan but immediately had Pozzato in my wheel. That's just his way of riding: his speciality is to make others lose.
"I gave up my efforts then. In the sprint I took no risks because the Tour of Lombardy is ahead."
Pozzato tried the same close marking in the recent world championships in Australia, leading to sentiments of frustration from Gilbert and Bjorn Leukemans. The latter said that if the Italian had committed and ridden, that it would have prevented the big group finish that handed the advantage to the sprinters, and the rainbow jersey to Norwegian Thor Hushovd.
Pozzato’s tactics saw him finish fourth in Geelong. His marking of Gilbert today was less successful, in that he ended the race back in 57th place. Style aside, it was a case of another race, another opportunity lost.