Filippo Pozzato crashed during the Paris-Roubaix 2012
Filippo Pozzato of Team Farnese Vini-Selle Italia has not registered any wins in the season yet and the cyclist was counting on Paris-Roubaix to open his 2012 winning account.
Pozzato started off brilliantly and was right behind the race leader Tom Boonen during the final kilometres.
Absence of Fabian Cancellara strengthened his chances for an overall victory at the race.
The stage was set for Filippo as he approached towards the final sector of the race, right behind the wheel of Tom Boonen.
He misjudged a corner towards the end of the race and was brought to the ground which ruined his chances for the first place finish.
Team Farnese Vini-Selle Sports Director Serge Parsani was disappointed after the incident.
He told Cyclingnews, "It's a big disappointment because Pozzato was in great condition, he was really very good but unfortunately he was taken out of the race by a crash”.
"He hit his right leg and had difficulties in pedalling, and that's why he abandoned", Serge concluded.
Pozzato joined Team Farnese Vini-Selle Italia in 2012 after making his professional debut with Team Mapei-Quick Step in 2000-02.
He has also represented Team Fassa Bortolo (2003-04), Team Quick Step-Innergetic (2005-06), Team Liquigas (2007-08) and Team Katusha (2009-11) seasons.
Tom Boonen make full use of the opportunity and seal the deal during the event.
He crossed the finish line in a fastest time of 5 hours, 55 minutes and 22 seconds to register his fourth victory of the race to level the world record of most wins at Paris-Roubaix.
Belgian cyclist Roger De Vlaeminck’s achieved the honours 35 years ago after his fourth victory came during the 1972, 1974, 1975 and 1977 versions of the race.
"It's always easy to talk after the event, but when Boonen began forcing on the pavé, there were five riders with him".
"After that, Pozzato waited for some help from Ballan which never arrived. Boonen took 100 metres and he was away”, Parsani noted.
Filippo started his 2012 campaign at the Tour of Flanders and occupied the second overall spot at the race.
He also finished 6th at the Milan-San Remo and is still waiting for his first victory for the 2012 season.
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