Former Italian champion Filippo Pozzato turned around the longest winless period of his pro career today, soloing to a much-needed win in the Gran Premio Beghelli. The 30 year old picked up the twentieth season victory for the Katusha team when he attacked eight kilometres from the finish line, riding strongly from that point to beat the next riders by nineteen seconds.
Manuel Belletti (Colnago) and current Italian champ Giovanni Visconti (Farnese Neri) were second and third.
“I’m very happy to get back to taking victories,” Pozzato said at the line. “I needed it in order to erase a long, bad period, in which I suffered for some serious injuries too. I want to thank my team-mates very much, especially [Luca] Paolini: thanks to his brilliant work, the group behind slowed down its chase, so I was able to win quite easily.”
The day was marked by an 18 man breakaway group which would go on to fight it out for the win. It was formed gradually, with the instigator being the Ag2r la Mondiale rider Ben Gastauer. He went clear early on and opened a gap of over five minutes, then was later joined by Leonardo Pinizzotto (Miche–Guerciotti) and Diego Caccia (Farnese Vini–Neri Sottoli).
Fifteen other riders eventually came up to the trio, including Pozzatto, Belletti and Visconti, as well as Rabobank pairing Grischa Niermann and Bauke Mollema, Fabio Taborre, Francesco Di Paolo, Alessandro Donati, Claudio Corioni (all Acqua & Sapone), Maxime Monfort and Oliver Zaugg (Leopard Trek), Thibaut Pinot (FDJ), Maurizio Gorato (Geox-TMC) and Miguel Angel Rubiano Chavez (D'Angelo & Antenucci – Nippo).
This was whittled down somewhat, then Pozzato made his move. He’s encountered a lot of frustrations this season but this time things worked out perfectly, with a solo win boosting his morale at a much-needed point.
Leopard-Trek directeur sportif Kim Andersen gave his team’s perspective. “The final time up the climb, Pozzato attacked,” he said. “The break had been whittled down at this point, so it was Pozzato out front with nine riders behind. Zaugg and Monfort were part of the nine. They were never able to catch Pozzato, so he took the win solo.”
The Italian will continue to aim high in the remaining races, then take a winter break before building up for his debut with the Farnese Vini team next year.