Unlucky
Team Liquigas at Paris-Roubaix
Friday 18th April, 2008
by Martin Williamson
Lady Luck certainly wasn't on Team Liquigas'
side at last Sunday's Paris-Roubaix, as things went from bad (even
before the race) to worse!
Still, Manuel Quinziato, Murillo Fischer,
Filippo Pozzato and the guys in green gave it their all at the world's
toughest race.
So, here is a list of 10 things you may not
have seen from Paris-Roubaix coverage elsewhere...
1. The order of team cars is crucial in Paris-Roubaix
- more so than in any other race. The ongoing rift between the UCI
and ASO meant that Liquigas couldn't count on fine showings at San
Remo and Flanders, and instead the position of ALL team cars went
to the luck of the draw. Liquigas drew 21st place out of 25 teams!
2. Roubaix is known to
be hard on team cars, but this usually applies during the race. Liquigas
lost their first car on the way to the sign-in, when a local chap
lost control of his car at the exit of the highway and crashed into
the green Liquigas Fiat. The incident also damaged a Lampre car which
was able to continue. Unfortunately, a Lampre mechanic wasn't as lucky
and went to the hospital, but was seen post-race, working hard and
wearing a neck brace!
One down, one to go...
3. With a poor car position
and being one car short, Liquigas handed wheels and water bottles
out to sponsors and friends with instructions to position themselves
at the exit of certain sectors of cobbles. Quinziato benefitted from
this at the exit of the Arenberg with a quick wheel change from ex-Liquigas
rider Nicola Loda.
Filippo Pozzato leads Aleksandr Kuschynski
in the 4th sector.
4. Before the Arenberg,
Liquigas lost their second team car! A quick change to an organization
car meant they were back up and running, but unfortunately, bad luck
would continue to come at the worst possible moments.
5. Filippo Pozzato crashed
before the Arenberg and resulted in a hard hit to his right thigh
and knee. He valiantly chased for 35 km back to the Boonen group,
but would then pay for his effort in chasing back.
Filippo Pozzato had to chase for over
30km to get back to the lead group.
6. Pippo started the race
aboard his San Remo Special Cannondale SuperSix with Fulcrum Racing
Speed high profile carbon rims and standard tires in order to roll
faster over the first 90km, thus saving energy for the cobbles. He
switched to his cobble machine at the feed zone after the second sector
of pave. This bike was equipped with Fulcrum Racing Light low profile
wheels with Vittoria 27's for a more supple ride over the jarring
cobble sectors.
7. Manuel Quinziato damaged
his rear derailleur before the Arenburg Forest and then broke a wheel
in that feared sector. A wheel change added yet more time to his chase,
but a gutsy ride by the rider from Bolzano netted him a solid 13th
place.
8. Pippo's preferred race-day
breakfast? He's very specific... an omelette made with four whites
and one yolk!
9. Not knowing the fate
of his teammates behind, Murillo Fischer attacked the first main group
in the Arenberg Forest and exited the sector in third place of the
main chase group.
Murillo Fischer gives it everything in the
left hand gutter in the Arenburg Forest.
10. Cyclocross star Enrico
Franzoi was another victim of the day's bad luck, having flatted at
a most inopportune time when the car troubles began.
