Answering recent criticisms that he races negatively and worries more about marking key riders rather than riding his own race, the Italian rider Filippo Pozzato has defended his actions.
“After Paris-Tours, I received a text message from Philippe,” he told Het Nieuwsblad. “He apologized for his remarks. He has no problem with me. My tactic was simple: I try to follow the strongest. Is that not logical? In spring it’s usually Tom Boonen, in the fall it’s Philippe Gilbert. I have a very good relationship with both Belgians, they are truly world class players. If I cannot make a difference, then I put myself on the wheel.”
Gilbert had voiced frustration after Paris-Tours. “Pozzato’s speciality is to ride to make others lose,” he told Sporza. “I tried to attack on the Côte de l'Epan but immediately had Pozzato in my wheel. That's just his way of riding.”
Gilbert’s sentiments echoed those voiced by his Belgian team-mate Bjorn Leukemans after the world road race championship. He too spoke of the Italian’s negative tactics. “After my attack in the penultimate lap, there were six of us at the front. Why would Filippo Pozzato not work in it? Had he done so, we were gone. Now he has nothing.”
Pozzato’s statement will do little to play down criticism that he follows other riders, given that they are essentially an admission that he does. However he says that there are no lingering hard feelings from Gilbert. “After Paris-Tours I actually got a text message from Gilbert. He apologized for his remarks. He has no problem with me," Pozzato said.
The Italian also outlined his likely schedule for next year, saying that he would get his racing underway in either the Tour de San Luis in Argentina or the Tour of Qatar, then will build towards Milan-Sanremo, the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix. He doesn’t feel that the Tour de France route suits him that well and so he is considering riding the Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a España instead.
He will continue to compete with the Katusha team in 2011, having signed a one year extension.