Yesterday VeloNation reported that Filippo Pozzato's (Katusha) participation for this weekend's Tour of Flanders was in doubt, but now the Italian national champion has confirmed the worst, he will not be present to contest Sunday's event. The decision was taken after a long discussion with Katusha team manager Andrei Tchmil this morning.
"Now the fever has gone down somewhat, but last night I had diarrhea again," explained Pozzato to La Gazzetta dello Sport. "I cannot eat much and I feel physically weak. The physician advised me stay at home and rest. Taking the start for Sunday's race is impossible."
Pozzato participated in the Three Days of De Panne this week and came down with a fever during the race. Over the last few days his condition has worsened resulting in one of the pre-race favorites missing the year's second monument.
Some riders, such as Sunday's top favorite Tom Boonen (Quick Step), decided to skip the traditional build-up in De Panne to recuperate from last weekend's races where E3 Prijs was followed by a lengthened Gent-Wevelgem for the first time. He also wanted to take the time to recon the new route changes for the 2010 edition of the Tour of Flanders. With the foul weather that the Three Days of De Panne encountered, it seems to have been a wise choice.
Now the Italian will focus on Paris-Roubaix the following weekend, a race in which he finished second last year. Pozzato is still in Kortrijk, Belgium and will return home to Italy tomorrow.