"I rode next to him and I saw how he tackled the climbs, the type of gears he pushed" - Does Domenico Pozzovivo know the next great Italian climber?
Cycling
Bici.PRO spoke with Domenico
Pozzovivo recently to discuss who could be the next exciting Italian climber. The Giro
d’Italia stage winner from 2012 retired at the end of 2024 but remains deeply
involved in cycling, offering insight into the future of Italian climbing
talent.
"Being just a little bit like
me can be an advantage, today climbers need to have other characteristics too.
Then telling a young person that he has to have a twenty-year career like mine
is a big responsibility. If we limit ourselves to simple parameters like height
and weight, Matteo Fabbro seemed the most suited to this succession. I rode
next to him and I saw how he tackled the climbs, the type of gears he pushed.
But he's not the only one."
Pozzovivo also pointed to another
promising Italian rider. "Without going too far, in my region there is
Alessandro Verre. He is also very similar to me in terms of physical parameters.
With the difference that Alessandro also has a more explosive start than me,
also coming from cyclocross. He stands a bit higher on the pedals. His
anthropometric measurements are similar to mine and he could really be a
high-level pure climber. He must insist and continue to work."
Reflecting on past trends in
cycling, Pozzovivo highlighted the influence of Colombian climbers. "A few
years ago there was a wave of Colombians that brought this type of rider back
into fashion. If I had to say who was most like me, there were many of them.
Their way of pedaling and tackling climbs was really similar to mine. Now,
however, there are fewer emerging talents from South America and the pure
climber seems to be in disuse."
He also noted how the demands of
modern cycling have evolved. "Today we are looking for a more complete
rider, who can defend himself in a tight sprint and who doesn't lose minutes in
the time trial. Today's cycling wants athletes who are able to better manage
all race situations, even if this means giving up the pure climber."
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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