Filippo Pozzato Not Afraid of Boonen at Roubaix, But Should He Be?

Filippo Pozzato claimed recently according to cyclingnews.com that he is not afraid of Tom Boonen on the cobbles of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, and that the Belgain is not unbeatable. In the same interview though, the Italian seems to allow that Boonen is the stronger cobbled classic rider, and all but admits that he will be wheel sucking Boonen if it means he has a chance at victory in one of the Belgian monuments.

Pozzato has had an interesting career since turning pro. He blasted onto the scene back in 2003 winning the overall at the Tirreno Adriatico race, and then added a grand tour stage win at the Tour de France the next year. In 2005 he won the HEW Cyclassics and then cemented his status in 2006 as a top-flight one day rider with a huge victory at Milan-San Remo as Boonen's teammate. After that it was a nice win at the Het Volk Semi-classic in 2007, as he rode as part of the Liquigas team.

2008 was a down year for Pozzato despite a 2nd place at Milan-San Remo and a 6th at the Tour fo Flanders, and his tough luck continued in 2009 with three top five finishes but no wins in Flanders (5th), Roubaix (2nd) and Paris-Tours (4th). Pozzato, always tough on the cobbles, now has the experience to really believe in himself as a top favorite in a few weeks time.

Taking on an on-form Tom Boonen at Paris-Roubaix though is a tall order for any rider, much less Pozzato. Boonen possesses unmatched power and bike handling ability on the tough bergs of Flanders and pave of Roubaix, not to mention an amazing Quick Step team that supports him around every turn of the classics. For better or worse, Pozzato's only tactic is in fact to follow Boonen, and hope that the three-time Roubaix winner suffers a mechanical or crash en route to the finish line.

Filippo Pozzato will come into Het Volk, Flanders and Roubaix as one of the favorites, but like everyone else he'll take a back seat to Boonen proving that "Tommeke" is on form and healthy. The Belgian, already sporting great form at the Tour of Qatar, looks primed for another run at Roubaix glory. If Pozzato, or anyone else for that matter, is to thwart the big Belgian, they'll need to make Boonen beat himself. Not only that though, Pozzato will have to work more on his leg musculature and less on his tan in the coming weeks and months.