More patches than healthy skin, Pozzovivo comes to sit after his shower on the steps at the front of the busThere is an hour left until the start of the time trial which closes its 16th Tour of Italy and will once again finish in the top tenThe Mortirolo crash heavily affected the second part of the race, but for the rest the Lucanian moved like a cricket in the front rows of the group. And so, while he puts on his compression socks and prepares for the last eve of the race, we talk to him about what he saw around and what will be.
Satisfied?
Yes, I'm satisfied because anyway talk about top 10 and reach it with everything what I experienced this winter and anyway after my accident, it's a great result.
How did you see the fight ahead for this Giro?
For me, it was even more than I expected in the first two weeks, because I was there at the same level as those who played it, so that makes me even more happy. I saw Carapaz as the favorite, given how she was positioned and because, especially at high altitudes, she usually finds something to suit her. But Hindley's condition has been truly stellar.Even two years ago, when he revealed himself to the general public, the last week for him was of the highest level. So I think that It's going to be a really tough nut to crack for the next few years.
How did the three groups that competed in the Giro move?
Ineos ran the race without taking any risks and in the end it didn't pay off. I think that the Bora did something offensive and also very spectacular that in some sections decided the fate of the GiroExcept for the Turin stage, where they pulled off a spectacular move, they were in practically every breakaway. So, it was a very offensive race. Instead, Bahrain tried to capitalize on all the work in just one stage, the Fedaia stage., but in the end my legs weren't good. Not enough to beat the other two.
They didn't seem irresistible between Pordoi and Fedaia...
As a group I think they were at the limit of their abilitiesBecause when you have such a busy week, things level out, and you can't always make a huge difference. If they had accelerated more, they would have lost Buitrago immediately too, so they were all more or less level. I still think that Bora was banking on Hindley from the start.Let's say he also had other co-captains, as is so often the case these days, because accidents always happen in the Grand Tours. However it was clear that he was the most protected and the one they counted on the most.
Without the crash, how would your Giro have changed?
Top 5 instead of top 10 and it would have been even more prestigious. But I have to say, also considering that I really like numbers, that arriving eighth 14 years after my first ninth place in the general classification is a lotI have been asked questions about the continuation of my career, Maybe this fall gives me the motivation to look for what I call the perfect GiroI almost did it, but now I have the motivation to continue in the coming months.
If it were up to you, it would never end?
Obviously I am aware that I am taking a risk in running, because my elbow is not 100 percentBut let's say I've found a good compromise: running behind when I can afford it and wasting a little more time to catch up, thus limiting the risks.
Was the fall really due to a poor choice of records?
From a brake problem, really. I limited all the risks by staying in a group and then we tried to change something in a braking system that was good, but not 100 percent. And it didn't get any better.
There was talk of the disc being too small…
That's not it. We have the 140 disc as standard, the bike provides for it and having a superior one will be, let's say, evolution. More than anything, we changed something in the caliper and it didn't work.
How did you see the old Nibali?
I saw it very well, I didn't expect him to be able to make a top 5, after a troubled start to the season for him too.I think he wasn't expecting it himself, that he was afraid he'd have a breakdown any day, a crisis that would force him to give up. Instead, he persevered. Let's say that on parallel tracks we both held firm in the last week, trying to bring out the best.
Last time trial always at full speed?
I like to do time trials at my best, otherwise they become agony. So I'll also try to... test something new on the bike, since the Tour of Switzerland features a 25-kilometer race against the clockLet's move on, then...
