KORTRIJK (procycling.no): 38 years and in his life form. Luca Paolini (Team Katusha) believes he is living proof that age is secondary, often insignificant and nothing more than a number.
The way he went all the way in a apocalyptic Gent-Wevelgem last week confirms well that claim. Where others were downright blown off the road kept the Italian head cold.
He crashed twice but never got panic, although his third bike for the day had too high air pressure. When teammate Alexander Kristoff he gave a nod approvingly, jumped veteran from Milan unleashed.
Paolini sealed a two min long hatch through to the forefront. After climbing up Kemmelberg he was country road Vivaldi. In break with four other composed the Italian veteran a small masterpiece, when he played the competition to its own playful melody.
– It was my best ever triumph. I showed that age is secondary, says the 1977 model Paolini – now an outsider to win Sunday’s Tour of Flanders.
With the victory in Gent-Wevelgem, he stole just in Het Nieuwsblad list of the top ten favorites. Flemish newspaper ranks Kristoff in seventh place.
But after Driedaage De Panne, where Kristoff won three stages and overall, makes Paolini hierarchy of Team Katusha crystal clear.
– Kristoff showed that he is our clear captain. I’ll give 100 percent that he will win, says Paolini – two days before Sunday’s Tour of Flanders.
Easier with Kristoff
Paolini has shadowed many greats during his elongated career that started with Mapei in 2000. Johan Museeuw, Franco Ballerini and Paolo Bettini are some of them.
From these he has learned a lot and won all the great classics. Love of the Flemish races he inherited from Ballerini, the Italian Roubaix winner who died in a car accident in 2010.
Being “road captain” for Kristoff is comparatively easier task.
– I’ve had a great relationship with most, but there is something very special about Alex. It’s in focus is to protect him before sprint. With Bettini showed you never know what happened, he could attack 100 kilometers from the finish. How Alex, at least not yet, says Paolini with a sly smile on her lush red beard.
– We have a great advantage. We do not need to dissociate some or create something violations. Alex has shown that he is the strongest asked toward the end of a great classic. We just have to keep us close to him, carrying him to the finals without exerting much effort, says Paolini while Kristoff – again – nods approvingly.
The role of “road captain” requires much more than just physical talent. Job Description lists requirements unwavering determination under extremely chaotic and changeable circumstances.
Paolini must always stay one step ahead of the race development, read the weather properly and ensure that your team is favorably positioned. In the talented but altruistic Paolini has Kristoff found all these qualities.
– I just need to lay on his wheel, then I wind up there I’ll be, he has also said earlier about his Italian guide.
Rookie Sven Erik Bystrøm that Sunday driving his first Tour of Flanders, also sees the value of Paolinis routine.
– He knows a lot, have lots of experience. A luring says Bystrøm.
The role he fills according Paolini even as important as it is difficult to explain. It is ukvantifiserbare properties enables him to lead, show the way and instruct.
– I have a lot of experience and know often roads. I do not need to sit promoting among the top 30 all the time, where everyone hurrying. I can comfortably sit to relax a bit longer in the field. So I go forward when necessary, says Paolini.
he should go ahead, only he knows.
An important tactical chip
This year Paolini combined his great routine with youthful frivolity. Full of surplus he was all over in Milan Sanremo. When he did not retrieve bottles lagbilen, he retrieved Kristoff up from the tail of the field on the Cipressa and knocking him forward on the run, until its last legs.
Paolinis strong form comes after a hectic winter. Rarely a day passes without the bike. He is four kilograms lighter than last year. When he rode the Tour of San Luis in January he was out and rolled before breakfast.
– I need some time to get started, says 38-year-old. An aging he actually marks.
Sunday he becomes an important part of Team Katusha tactical plan. Torstein Schmidt, sports director of the Russian team, said Paolini may be a short to play when the attacks of Thomas, Styb and VANMARCKE comes at Oude Kwaremont and Pater Berg.
– We have several option for Sunday . There we proved in Gent-Wevelgem, where Paolini was in place at the right time. We can also play the card. Etixx (QuikStep) has a very strong team, but it also has. We will be in the right place at the right time again.
Without the two giants – Fabian Cancellara and Tom Boonen – it is expected an unpredictable, open and exciting edition of The Ronde . Who will be the reference? Paolini be with identifying Kristoffer biggest threat.
North man is one of the big favorites, but Flanders can also astonishing. Last time we saw a real peelings in the Belgian cobblestone classic was in 2001. Then won another Milan-cyclist: Gianluca Bortolami.
The article is delivered by bicycle website procycling.no.
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