Filippo Pozzato Wins Trofeo Laigueglia

Filippo Pozzato chose "his" Trofeo Laigueglia (50° edition) as his first victory since he joined Team Lampre-Merida; it was his third victory in this race. It is also the first major victory for Taiwanese bike sponsor Merida. Completing the podium were Francesco Reda (Androni Venezuela) and Mauro Santambrogio (Vini Fantini).

The Lampre-Merida team, with Pozzato, Ulissi, Cunego and Pietropolli, were able to not worry about a long breakaway of five riders. With 50 km to go the breakaway was neutralized. In the final km Ulissi and Pozzato followed the attack by Santambrogio, then Ulissi launched Pozzato's sprint to victory.

"I really care about  Laigueglia, so I'm very satisfied with this victory," said Pozzato. "My condition was good and I knew I could perform a great race. In addition, I received perfect support from my teammates. I got scared when Chaves crashed and hit my bike forcing me to change it but everything turned out well."

Next in Pozzato's program for this season: Omloop het Nieuwsblad, Kuurne - Brussel - Kuurne, Giro del Lazio (perhaps a new name will be announced Monday), Tirreno - Adriatico, Milano - Sanremo, E3 Harelbeke, Gent - Wevelgem, Tour of Flanders, Paris - Roubaix, Tour of Turkey, and Giro d'Italia. His main objectives are Milano - Sanremo and the northern classics.

Related story:
Only God Can Judge Me

Photo: Bettini

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com.  There are now more than 2,700 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

Pozzato Pouch to Raise Funds for Veneto Flood Victims

Filippo Pozzato, the cycling champion of Team Katusha, is mobilizing to provide help to the people affected by the recent flooding in the Veneto region. As examples of the destruction the photo above shows the historic district in Vicenza, and you can see read here how Selle SMP was devastated.

“Seeing the roads of my home flooded, those on which I learned to ride a bike, gave me great sadness,” says Pozzato

Pozzato is donating 10,000 Euro to institutions that will assist with the reconstruction of houses damaged by flooding. This donation matches that of a charity organized in collaboration with Sci’Con, the Italian manufacturer of bike bags and travel cases. Sci’Con products are imported in to the US by Albabici.

Together, Pozzato and Sci’Con created the Pippo Pouch, a multifunctional lightweight microfiber bag (dimensions 30×40 cm) that can hold a change of clothing, shoes, and helmets or even used as a travel laundry bag.

The Pozzato Pouch is available on www.sciconbags.com at a standard price of 10 Euro; or signed by Pozzato himself at the cost of 20 Euro. Proceeds will go to flood victims of Veneto.

“Today I live in Monaco,” says Pozzato, “but my heart remains firmly planted in my homeland. I’m not used to advertising benefits of my actions, but I want to raise public awareness on a disaster about which one cannot remain impassive. This is why I say to all sports people today: buy that bag and those families who have lost everything, will thank you. It is a small gesture to rebuild hope.”

ICJ Reader contribution contest will run 1 January to 15 February, 2011. Details here.

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,600 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also an Italian weather widget along the right side and a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page. What I'm riding.

Not Campagnolo Bora Wheels?

Here is Filippo Pozzato on his way to victory at the Sun Herald Cycling Classic today. The wheels say "Campagnolo Bora" but Campagnolo Bora wheels look like this:


What are they? A new wheel from Campagnolo, or another brand with Campagnolo Bora decals slapped on? If the latter, it's always disappointing to see this although I know it's an all too common occurrence.

Photo (race): by Bettini

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,500 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog and there is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page. What I'm riding.

Pozzato Wins Herald Sun Cycling Classic

"Famously abstinent, Filippo Pozzato swept to a confidence-boosting victory in the Herald Sun Cycling Classic Ballarat as Fabian Cancellara and Simon Gerrans laid down important markers for the world road cycling titles this week.

Regarded as a playboy of the international peloton, Italian teaam captain Pozzato claims he has not had sex since breaking up with his girlfriend in May.

"Staying away from women isn't a problem for me at the moment. For the world championships I'm willing to make that sacrifice and lots of others," Pozzato said before arriving in Victoria.

"The end of my relationship was a difficult time and at the Giro I was sleeping for just two or three hours. I was a wreck."

The ploy appears to have worked.

Source: Herald Sun of Australia

Photo: Pozzato's tattoo...in case you hadn't seen it

Pozzato was part of a four-rider group to escape on the sixth of seven laps, eventually sprinting clear of Pole Maciej Bodnar, Chile's Carlos Oyarzun Guinez and Swiss star Fabian Cancellara after 130km in 3hrs 1min 9secs.

A stage winner at the grand tours of France, Spain and Italy, Pozzato delighted coach and dual world champion Paolo Bettini with a clinical ride.

The Italians are desperate to honour the memory of former national coach Franco Ballerini, who was killed in a car accident in February.

Bettini's squad traveled to Geelong in July for familiarization rides around the world title circuit.

Ballarat's Patrick Shaw was Australia's top-placed finisher yesterday.

"I was confident before this race because in the Vuelta (Tour of Spain), I was very strong," Pozzato.

"But it's important for the team to stick together, (to) do a race together without radio communication like we have to next week."

Gerrans, competing for the first time since abandoning the Tour of Spain, was satisfied with his 15th.

"I got exactly what I wanted to get out of it," he said.

"I kept putting myself up there with hard splits until that final climb.

"I stretched the legs and had a bit of a go."

Cancellara vindicated his decision to make a late entry into the race with a controlled fourth.

"It was the right choice to come here to this race," he said.

"I still have jetlag. For me, today was a long day. But I am happy."

Source: Herald Sun of


By the way, the Italian team rode 70 km to the start, raced 120 km, and then rode back 70km to their hotel.

Photo: Pozzato's tattoo, in case you hadn't seen it

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,500 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog and there is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page. What I'm riding.