Bettini to lead Italian squad at worlds
- By VeloNews.com
- Published Sep. 15, 2008
- Updated Sep. 16, 2008 at 2:32 PM EDT
Reigning world champion Paolo Bettini will spearhead the Italian team’s bid to keep the coveted rainbow jersey in Italian hands at the world road race cycling championships in two weeks time.
Bettini, a recent two-stage winner at the Vuelta a España, leads a mixed nine-man team which includes climbers such as Damiano Cunego and sprinters like Luca Paolini.
Italian national coach Franco Ballerini has no place in the team, however, for Danilo
Di Luca, last year’s Giro d’Italia champion who sat out a three-month doping ban earlier this year.
Bettini, who lost his Olympic road race crown in Beijing to Spaniard Samuel Sanchez, has the chance to win a hat-trick of victories at the men’s road race in Varese on September 28 and is likely to be given unflinching support.
Ballerini said it was no easy job picking the team.
“It’s a special year, what with the championships being held in Italy. Paolo (Bettini) has the chance to make a little bit of cycling history.”
Team Italia, world championships, 2008
• Paolo Bettini
• Andrea Tonti
• Matteo Tosatto
• Damiano Cunego
• Marzio Bruseghin
• Alessandro Ballan
• Davide Rebellin
• Luca Paolini
• Gabriele Bosision
FILED UNDER: Road