Filippo Pozzato (Wilier Trestina-Southeast) has insisted that this year's Giro d'Italia will not be the last of his career but has revealed to Cyclingnews that he is already thinking about a post-racing career as a team manager. And he is thinking big, convinced he will follow in the footsteps of Etixx-QuickStep manager Patrick Lefevere and one day manage a successful WorldTour team.
The 34-year-old Italian is the team leader at Wilier Trestina-Southeast for the Giro d'Italia, especially after the loss of promising young sprinter Jakub Mareczko during stage 5. Pozzato has not won a race since 2013 but is hoping to target a stage late in the Giro. "So far I've had a good season, my form's been good but not good enough to win and obviously winning is the important thing in cycling," he conceded to Cyclingnews.
"I haven't won for a while and so I think I'm just missing that edge, to take a few risks and win. I just need to 'osare', as we say in Italian. I need to fight more, push it to the limit and go for it. I'm perhaps a little blocked psychologically. Of course the reality is that it's now harder than ever to win. The level is really high in professional cycling these days.
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"I had a complicated week before the race, attending two funerals for family and friends but I hope to ease myself into form in the first week and then come good later on. There are several stages where a break could stay away in the second week and I hope to get into one of them."
A future as a team manager
Pozzato has a contract with the Wilier-Southeast team for 2017 and insisted at the recent presentation of the team's new red jersey that he intends to carry on racing. However, he also dropped several hints that he could decide to quit as a rider this season.
- Pozzato planning to retire in 2017 and become team manager
- Filippo Pozzato's Wilier Triestina Cento1SR - Gallery
- Wilier Triestina becomes title sponsor of Southeast team
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
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