BiciRace.com :: News :: March 2006

News :: March 2006

19 March 2006

Pippo Holds and Wins a Grand Classic

Bettini and Pippo Party, photo: Quick-Step

Filippo Pozzato (Quick-Step) won the biggest race of his career to date, the Milano-Sanremo. He marked the attack of his training partner, Alessandro Ballan (Lampre-Fondital), on the Poggio, did just enough to make the escape survive, and then went clear with 300 meters remaining on the Via Roma. The 24 year-old barely survived in front of the charging peloton and it made for one of the most exciting finales of Sanremo.

"I believe that this is the best moment of my life," said Filippo Pozzato (Quick-Step) while being mobbed after his win. "... I worked well in the break, and I also did not waste energy. I kept hope when we were in the escape. We played games in the final kilometer and lost time... and then I went at the last second... We have such a strong squad and it was thanks to them. Tom and Paolo are so happy for me. It is a nice feeling."

"The people believed in me," said the former Mapei rider. "This win is a dream come true for me. I am content for my fan club that are here, and my parents. It is a huge satisfaction for me. This is worth all of the sacrifices over the winner. Boonen was super, he and Paolo just sat back and let me have my time in the break. Both the World and Olympic Champion were working for me!" And now you have won Sanremo! "Finalmente!"

"I began the race on a team with two or three favorites," said Pippo, winner of the 2005 HEW-Cyclassics. "I tried to do my best for Tom, to help him. Then I went with Ballan on the Poggio. I am sorry that I left my Boonen and Bettini behind, but I am happy to have marked Ballan. Ballan went strong, very strong. I risked it all to go with him, and then again with the long sprint from 300 meters. I had to go when I did, the peloton was behind... It was the dream of my life, of the last 24 years. Yesterday I said that I would will try and do something, and I did."

Have you realized what you won? "Afterwards there was a mass of people and I started to understand," said Pippo. "I am saving my emotions for a huge party this evening. Trenti and Bettini help with a huge dinner and party.

Treno Milram Fails Petacchi

No Velo for Petacchi, photo: BiciRace.com

Petacchi's Treno Milram came short of the goods yesterday in Milano-Sanremo. The Italian squadra lacked the fire-power in the finale to pull back the escape, and were not helped when Quick-Step work since they had Filippo Pozzato in the escape.

Fabio Sacchi and Erik Zabel were thundering down the descent to bring back the move for Petacchi, but Velo was off the back. Pozzato ripped towards the arrivo while Ale-Jet was forced to launch an early and desperate sprint. Petacchi's sprint would not be enough to catch the Quick-Step rider, it was only good enough for second.

Sacchi Did a Huge Effort, photo: BiciRace.com

"Everything went OK, I had enough teammates in the finale," said Petacchi after the finish. "They did some great work today. They were very strong. Like I said yesterday, you need condition, but also good luck. We got rid of Alessandro Cortinovis early, then Maarten Den Bakker. But Erik Zabel and Fabio Sacchi did a great amount of work in the final kilometers."

Zabel: io per te, photo: BiciRace.com

One bright spot was that Zabel gave his all to help his new teammate, ruining any excitement of a possible coup. "On the Poggio it was fine," continued last year's winner. "Erik kept saying, 'Io per te' [I am for you] on the Cipressa, and that was a nice feeling coming from him... We were forced to make all the work, while Boonen just sat on wheels. But, I believe I went even stronger than last year... Just that the escape was up the road. Today I missed out."

Cipollini Reflects on Emotional Sanremo

Cipollini with Pippo at Sanremo, photo: Quick-Step

Mario Cipollini, who retired shortly after last year's Sanremo, was on hand yesterday to witness the glory of Filippo Pozzato's win. "Today was a race with lots of emotion, every kilometer, every turn," said retired the World Champion.

"It was a great race. Then when it came to the end, Pippo did an amazing thing, it was great! Today, won sport, and above all ciclismo. This is the most beautiful race. ... Pippo is part of a new generation, it is an important victory for cycling."

Ballan's Poggio Blast

Alessandro Ballan (Lampre-Fondital) put in the winning attack yesterday on the Poggio. Under cloudy skies and the Rabobank controlled peloton Ballan blasted off. His attack was beautifully timed, just near the top of the Poggio where there was 5.7K to go.

"We were all there, it was great emotion," said Ballan referring to the final run on the Via Roma. The Italian managed to hold on to finish eighth, but it was his Poggio blast paved the way for Pozzato's victory. "It is too bad that it did not work for me, but it was worth it. ... Now I will go to Belgium to win."

Liquigas with Paolini and Garzelli

Liquigas put two of their men in the top ten of yesterday's Milano-Sanremo: Luca Paolini third and Stefano Garzelli seventh. Paolini was able to nip past his former Quick-Step teammate, Tom Boonen, to secure a podium spot. While Garzelli, who is not a sprinter, amazingly finished in the mist of the bunch gallop.

"We were trying for me and for Garzelli," said Paolini while waiting to take to the podium. "I arrived with third place. It is not bad. Boonen and Petacchi went long and it helped me, I was able to come by when Boonen celebrated."

18 March News ...