THIS WEEK IN PRO CYCLING
Pozzato wins at Het Volk
Italian Filippo Pozzato proved he’s the strongman of the early season after taking an impressive victory Saturday in the Belgian season opener at Het Volk ahead of Spanish headbanger Juan Antonio Flecha (Rabobank) and pre-race favorite Tom Boonen (Quick Step-Innergetic).
A winner last week at the Tour du Haut-Var, the Liquigas captain delivered on his promise to be a protagonist in the 62nd Het Volk thanks to a brilliant finale that combined strength with savvy.
“This victory was sensational because it came in front of some big names – Flecha, Boonen, Nuyens, O’Grady – who will be favorites next month at Flanders,” gushed Pozzato. “This is very important for the confidence.”
A dangerous breakaway of Stuart O’Grady (CSC) and Flecha looked to have the victory in sight when the chasing trio of Pozzato, Nick Nuyens (Cofidis) and Boonen caught them with about 400m to go.
Just like he did last year at Milan-San Remo, Pozzato came barreling through and timed his sprint perfectly to counter the early bolt by Nuyens and held off Boonen to become the third Italian to win Het Volk (joining Franco Ballerini in 1995 and Michele Bartoli in 2001).
The Italian’s self-assurance should be sky-high as the 25-year-old insists he’s just reaching his prime. A surprise winner last year at Milan-San Remo and of a stage in the 2004 Tour de France, Pozzato proved he’s going to be a major player this spring.
“I think I will be even strong next month for Flanders,” said Pozzato, who called Het Volk a “mini Tour of Flanders.” “My goal is to win Flanders and Paris-Rouabix, so this proves I am on the right track.”
Expectations were high for Het Volk, the traditional season opener for the Belgian race calendar. Combined with Sunday’s Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne, Het Volk brings out the big guns as the spring classics season begins in earnest.
The peloton was welcomed with appropriate Belgian weather – rain, cold and wind – ideal for the toughmen to bash the pedals across the windswept farms around Ghent.
An early breakaway of eight riders pulled away on the Kwaremont climb and built up a three-minute lead on the already shattered peloton. Rabobank, which didn’t have a rider represented, did the heavy lifting to check the move with about 40km to go.
There were some unsuccessful attempts to break clear and nothing stuck until O’Grady accelerated out of the bunch with about 15km to go. Catching his wheel was Flecha with Boonen failing to bridge out. Boonen’s chase drew out Pozzato, Nuyens and Baden Cooke (Unibet.com) and the quartet chased at about 10 seconds back while the rest of the lead bunch were left fighting for leftovers.
It looked like O’Grady and Flecha would hold on, but the pair turned into some strong headwinds in the final kilometer, allowing the chasing trio, minus Cooke, to neutralize their move with about 400 meters to go.
Nuyens went first and Boonen made a big surge, but complained of leg cramps late in the race, opening the door for the opportunistic Pozzato to swing past for the win two seconds ahead of Flecha, who had enough to hang on for second place.
“Pippo deserves the win. He was the strongest in the end and the most explosive,” Boonen said. “It wasn’t really a true sprint and I lacked a little freshness. I also suffered cramps. But I am not disappointed in my race. I am still not at the peak of my condition but I was able to respond in the final meters. I was able to contend for the victory, so that’s the most important.”
Past Winners – Het Volk2006 - Philippe Gilbert (B) 2005 - Nick Nuyens (B) 2004 - cancelled (snow) 2003 - Johan Museeuw (B) 2002 - Peter Van Petegem (B) 2001 - Michele Bartoli (I) 2000 - Johan Museeuw (B) 1999 - Frank Vandenbroucke (B) 1998 - Peter Van Petegem (B) 1997 - Peter Van Petegem (B) 1996 - Tom Steels (B) 1995 - Franco Ballerini (I) 1994 - Wilfried Nelissen (B) 1993 - Wilfried Nelissen (B) 1992 - Johan Capiot (B) 1991 - Andreas Kappes (G) 1990 - Johan Capiot (B) 1989 - Etienne De Wilde (B) 1988 - Ronny Van Holen (B) 1987 - Teun van Vliet (Nl) 1986 - cancelled (snow) 1985 - Eddy Planckaert (B) 1984 - Eddy Planckaert (B) 1983 - Alfons De Wolf (B) 1982 - Alfons De Wolf (B) 1981 - Jan Raas (Nl) 1980 - Joseph Bruyere (B) 1979 - Roger De Vlaeminck (B) 1978 - Freddy Maertens (B) 1977 - Freddy Maertens (B) 1976 - Willem Peeters (B) 1975 - Joseph Bruyere (B) 1974 - Joseph Bruyere (B) 1973 - Eddy Merckx (B) 1972 - Frans Verbeeck (B) 1971 - Eddy Merckx (B) 1970 - Frans Verbeeck (B) 1969 - Roger De Vlaeminck (B) 1968 - Herman Vanspringel (B) 1967 - Willy Vekemans (B) 1966 - Jo De Roo (Nl) 1965 - Noél De Pauw (B) 1964 - Frans Melckenbeek (B) 1963 - René Van Meenen (B) 1962 - Robert De Middeleir (B) 1961 - Arthur De Cabooter (B) 1960 - cancelled 1959 - Seamus Elliott (Irl) 1958 - Joseph Planckaert (B) 1957 - Norbert Kerckhove (B) 1956 - Ernest Sterckx (B) 1955 - Lode Anthonis (B) 1954 - Karel De Baere (B) 1953 - Ernest Sterckx (B) 1952 - Ernest Sterckx (B) 1951 - Jean Bogaerts (B) 1950 - André Declerck (B) 1949 - André Declerck (B) 1948 - Sylvain Grysolle (B) 1947 - Albert Sercu (B) 1946 - André Pieters (B) 1945 - Jean Bogaerts (B)
