Tuesday, September 13, 2005
Forza Italia!
Paolo Bettini joins Rodriguez and Boonen in the elite ranks of sprinters able to beat Pettachi in a clean bunch sprint. But does this one deserve an asterisk since apparently there was a slight uphill finish? And now who beats McEwen, Bettini or Rodriguez? And what happened with Zabel's now habitual second place?
More significant, or perhaps more intriguing (depending on your personal view of the Squadra Azzuri) will be the possible ramifications the result has on the pecking order in the Italian squad for the World Championships. Pettachi can certainly expect to be anoited the undisputed leader for the race as the course is widely expected to favor the sprinters. But Bettini has the palmares, especially in one day races, and his win today will also give him some legitimacy in being given not only free reign but support as well.
Which will likely result in the Italians once again imploding in a fantastic display of infighting along the race route as the winning break goes clear...
More significant, or perhaps more intriguing (depending on your personal view of the Squadra Azzuri) will be the possible ramifications the result has on the pecking order in the Italian squad for the World Championships. Pettachi can certainly expect to be anoited the undisputed leader for the race as the course is widely expected to favor the sprinters. But Bettini has the palmares, especially in one day races, and his win today will also give him some legitimacy in being given not only free reign but support as well.
Which will likely result in the Italians once again imploding in a fantastic display of infighting along the race route as the winning break goes clear...
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I believe that the one consistent thread in all three of those victories by people other than Petacchi is power. Specifically a slight uphill at the finish that requires a burst of power rather than final leg speed. Petacchi is the fastest but, in my opinion, sot the mostpowerful sprinter out there. Thus is he beatable. It just depends on the finish straight and whether there is a slight rise at the finish.
Then he is truly out of the Cipollini mold! That's why I was always partial to Zabel and Jalabert, who seemed to excel when the sprinting was done up a slight incline.
But another aspect of Pettachi (again like Cipo) is his leadout train seems to always be there, doing their job to perfection. Thus Boonen's belly-aching about the Belgian selection. But what will be interesting for next season is to see how Alfa Milch or whatever the new squad is will try and support both Pettachi and the grey beard Zabel.
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But another aspect of Pettachi (again like Cipo) is his leadout train seems to always be there, doing their job to perfection. Thus Boonen's belly-aching about the Belgian selection. But what will be interesting for next season is to see how Alfa Milch or whatever the new squad is will try and support both Pettachi and the grey beard Zabel.
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