In an uncharacteristic display of humility, Filippo Pozzato, has conceded that Philippe Gilbert will be a strong barrier to his success at the World Championships.
The 2009 Italian champion lauded the Walloon in a conversation with Het Nieuwsblad: "Gilbert is the greatest danger to me. The way he grabbed the leader's jersey of the Vuelta, and then defended it, shows just how good his condition is."
Pozzato sees Gilbert's great form as an advantage for both himself and his Squadra Azzuri as well.
"On the Belgian team, he is the absolute leader. This is good news for us. It means that the Belgians are ready to do their own work. We, Italians, will not do all of the work."
Gilbert has had an incredible Vuelta so far, complete with a stage win in Stage 3's tough uphill finish above Malaga, accompanied by four days in the leader's red jersey following his third stage success. Through twelve stages, the winner of this year's Amstel Gold has racked up a win, 5th, 6th, 10th, 7th place in the opening team time trial, as well as playing a major role in the fight for the points jersey.
Gilbert has shown particularly prominently in the bunch sprints, usually not the stomping grounds for the rider comfortable on short, explosive climbs. It's clear that the leader of the Belgian team at this year's World Championships is not taking a passive approach to the two possible outcomes in this year's World Championships. While some are hoping for a bunch sprint and others hope for a break, Gilbert appears to be preparing for both possibilities: a breakaway, where his chances would be good either solo or in a small group, as well as the other possibility, a whittled down field sprint. Under normal conditions, Gilbert's chances in a field sprint are about as good as he's managed so far - somewhere in the latter half of the top 10. A select bunch sprint after 250 difficult kilometers does not play out like a typical Grand Tour sprint though, and Gilbert's chances in those circumstances are without question exponentially higher.
Filippo Pozzato, meanwhile, has had a much quieter Vuelta, and a much quieter season in general. The rider who hopes to lead the Italian team in Australia only has a 5th place to his credit through 12 stages of the Vuelta. The rest of his season has been rather quiet with wins coming in Stage 12 of the Giro and the third stage of the Vuelta a Burgos.