"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."
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