Filippo Pozzato proved strongest out of a late race four-man break to take the Herald Sun World Cycling Classic in Ballarat on Sunday.
The Italian was part of a four-man group that included defending World Time Trial champion, Fabian Cancellara. Simon Gerrans, spoke with The Age following a solid 15th place effort and noted that it was Cancellara's efforts that wrested the decisive move clear.
"I was right there until that winning group of four went away. When the world time trial champion jumps up the road, unless you're right on his wheel, it's hard to get across."
Cancellara was satisfied with his efforts. The Swiss superstar decided very late to take part in the race, but the ride from this year's Flanders/Roubaix double winner seems to show that doubts on his own fitness were probably a bit off.
"I still have jet lag, that's normal. I need some more days, but that's okay. I'm pretty happy, I've done the first race in Australia, it's great."
Pozzato, meanwhile, could enjoy a bit of satisfaction following a well played race and an excellent effort by not only the Italian elite team, but also its U23 squad, which made for an Italian juggernaut of 18 riders.
"This race was important for all the team to stay together, do a race together without radio, and to find the right [tactics]."
Pozzato's archival heading into next weekend's World Championships, Philippe Gilbert, did not take part in the race on Sunday. Gilbert is evidently satisfied with his form - and why not, considering his tally of two stage wins at the recently completed Vuelta, the Belgian looks better than ever.
Pozzato, however, was not able to manage a stage win in the final Grand Tour of the season, nor did he come all that close. As one of the main leaders of the Italian team, it would seem that this Sunday's effort was critical to show that the Classics standout was ready to shoulder the burden come a week from today. In Pozzato's mind though, he was ready to go with or without the result today.
"I felt very good in the Vuelta as well. I didn't need this result to understand that I can do a good race next Sunday. But Sunday will be different…still, I am confident."
Arguably the best one day specialist in the deep Australian talent pool, Simon Gerrans, showed that he is ready for next weekend. The Team Sky rider missed out on what would seem to be essential World Championships preparation when Team Sky pulled out following the tragic death of team soigneur Txema Gonzalez.
"I went out there and did what I had to do, it was a good, really incident-free whiteout. It didn't feel fantastic out there, but that was why I was there, blow a few cobwebs out."