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20 March 2006

Pippo Heads North

After winning Milano-Sanremo, Filippo Pozzato has his eyes on the northern classics. The 24 year-old rider, part of the mighty Quick-Step squadra, hopes to have his opportunities for victory. "I want to be a protagonist in the North: Flanders, Gent-Wevelgem and Paris-Roubaix," said Pippo.

"I hope to be a leader of a big team in the future, I don't know, maybe next year," said Pippo. For now he will share responsibilities with the World and Olympic Champions, Boonen and Bettini. "A dream of mine is to someday win the Worlds and then race in the rainbow jersey."

After 294K of racing last Saturday Pippo has achieved a dream victory: La Classicissima. "Sanremo, along with the Worlds, has always been a dream of mine," said Pozzato. "In 2004 I had to give my all for a Petacchi sprint, then last year I was ill. This year I did not want to make the race an obsession, but those who saw me knew that I was very concentrated. The win was a good response to all of my critics."

Pozzato will return to racing 28 March at the 3 Days of De Panne, then Flanders, Gent and Roubaix. Until then he will be training and driving his new red Ferrari F430 F1 on the roads of Vicenza. He ordered the Italian machine last September and received it early this year, a great way to celebrate a beautiful victory on the Via Roma.

Read:
Pippo Holds and Wins a Grand Classic, 19 March

DS Ballerini on Pozzato

Franco Ballerini, Italian national DS, was impressed with his former teammates win in the Milano-Sanremo. "I really have never said much in regards to Pippo, but I have always believed that he was a great rider," said Ballerini. "Remember that he is only 24 years-old. Sometimes he can be impatient but his self esteem carries him through."

These are important words coming from the Italian national DS. Pippo will rely on Ballerini in the future if he wants to be given the responsibilities of captain of the Squadra Azzurra at the World Championships.

Boonen on the Flanders of Italy

Tom Boonen realized a childhood dream when he won on home roads in the 2005 Tour of Flanders and therefore understands what it must be like for his Quick-Step teammate to have won the Milano-Sanremo. "I won the Flanders in Belgium, and I can only imagine what must be like for Pippo to have won the most important race for an Italian," said Boonen on Filippo Pozzato's victory.

The Quick-Step boys, and friend Luca Paolini of Liquigas, all enjoyed themselves Saturday night in a party in Pippo's honor. "I am very content for Pippo," continued Boonen. "I consider him one of the strongest riders in the world. All he needed to do was to unblock himself."

Michael Barry Goes North

BiciRace.com had a minute to speak with Canadian Michael Barry before he departed on his 294K journey from Milano to Sanremo. What are you plans after today? "After Sanremo I will we will go with George [Hincapie] for 3 Days [of De Panne], Flanders, Roubaix," said Barry (Discovery Channel) from the partenza. "George and I have been riding together, he is going well and his form is good."

Did you do any reconnaissance of the parcours? "No, we know the finale pretty well. For our team it will be important to have guys up front for the finish because we lead the ProTour team classification. We don't really have anyone for the race today, so that is our goal."

Disco Hammond on Form

Roger Hammond of Discovery Channel was in a good mood for the start of the Milano-Sanremo, his form is rising just in time for the Northern Classics. "I am going better, not as good as last year," said the Brit. "I crashed into that lamppost last year in Gent-Wevelgem, but this year I will be back with 3 Days of De Panne, Flanders and Roubaix with George Hincapie... My form is coming on now so we will see what happens."

Backstedt Continues to Build

BiciRace.com spoke with Magnus Backstedt (Liquigas), who we interviewed in February, at the Milano-Sanremo Partenza and asked how he was riding. "My form is good after the Mallorca crash. And I am better since we had the interview," said the Swede. "I will see what happens today and then it is up North for Roubaix."

We wish Magnus the best of luck on the Pavé.

Ardennes and Giro for Raisin

L'Americano, Saul Raisin, found BiciRace.com in the middle of the Tornado. We were with the other journalists, trying to talk Tom Boonen, when we bumped into everyone's favorite Crédit Agricole rider. Raisin asked for more BiciRace.com stickers, but we could only offer a Prodir pen to him.

Congratulations on the Cameron Highlands stage in the Tour de Langkawi. "Thanks, that was really special and exciting," said Raisin. "Now, after Sanremo, I will take a break before I head to the north." What is on the schedule? "I am going to race Amstel, Flèche and Liège, then go to the Giro." Cool, we will see you there!

Anything planned for today's Sanremo? "No. I don't plan on getting into a long break, but who knows," said l'Americano who was involved in an all-day escape in last year's World Championships. "I like these long rides. Six to six and a half hours of riding will be good."

Read:
Raisin Wants Training, 26 February
Bayliss on Training Partner Raisin, 18 February
Raisin Rocks the Cameron Highlands, 6 February

19 March News ...