Petacchi's last chance
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ByEurosport
Published 14/03/2006 at 11:49 GMT
Twice second in this edition of Tirreno-Adriatico, Alessandro Petacchi embarks on his last chance for a stage win before Milan-Sanremo on Tuesday. Last year's winner of the Primavera will be among the heavy favourites in the 166km final stage between Camp
CYCLING 2006 Tirreno-Adriatico Stage 7 Petacchi
Image credit: Imago
Petacchi was beaten to the line in a rough-and-tumble Stage 4 sprint by Thor Hushovd and then finished a strong second ahead in Monday's Stage 6 in the uphill climb to Torricella Sicura.
So is the glass half-full or half-empty for the Milram leader?
Empty if you consider that Petacchi's main rival on Saturday Tom Boonen will take the start of Milan-Sanremo with three stage wins under his belt in Paris-Nice.
Full if you note the fact that Petacchi - who according to reports is three kilos lighter than last year - has six stage wins to his name in 2006 and showed a new ability to keep pace when the road rises.
STRONG PETACCHI, FAST BOONEN
"Petacchi is last fast, but much better uphill and his team-mate Erik Zabel is the same," notes Eurosport Dutch commentator Danny Nelissen. "The problem is that Boonen is climbing well but is also very fast."
Having proved all he needed to, Boonen withdrew before the end of Paris-Nice for a reconnaissance of the Cipressa and the Poggio climbs with his Quick Step team-mates.
So does that rule out a repeat victory by the Italian on the Via Roma? Hardly.
Petacchi says he's even stronger than he was one year ago and "his performance uphill in Tirreno will give him plenty of confidence in the Cipressa," says Nelissen who says even if Petacchi does not win Tuesday's final stage, he will still take the start on Saturday intact.
"Petacchi wouldn't be bothered. He's not a guy who gets his head turned around by the media."
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