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25 September 2006

26 September News ...

Bettini Completes Circle with World Championship

Year after year the rainbow jersey looked out of reach for Paolo Bettini, but yesterday, under the Austrian sun the Italian collected the blue, red, black, yellow and green bands of 2006 World Champion. Il Grillo Livornese had come close on many occasions: second in Lisbon (2001), fourth in Hamilton (2003) and the bitter day in Madrid last year. Crossing the line yesterday, Bettini showed the same grit and roar as when he won the Olympics in Athens (2004) but this time there was a sense of liberation.

By winning, Bettini has finally become champion of the world, and finally is able to wear the rainbow jersey. It was one of the very few races lacking in his illustrious palmarès.

"I feel like I have completed the circle, which includes my wins in the Classics. I have won it all," said an emotional Bettini after the race. "I only am missing Flanders but I really don't think I can ask for more in one-day racing. I will talk it over with others; many want me to try the Giro d'Italia, but for sure next year I will do something different. This winter season I will start with some Six Day racing."

The reigning Olympic and Italian Champion has now become the World Champion. Tifosi won't see the tricolore jersey of Italia until there is another winner in June 2007, but they are sure to still see flashes of gold completing Bettini's rainbow kit. Il Grillo is still very proud of his win in Athens.

"The Olympics remain the most emotional win for me," said the 32 year-old when comparing the win in Athens to the one yesterday in Salzburg. "To win in the Olympics you are winning outside of the world of cycling. ... I am content to put on this rainbow jersey, and wear it for one year. It was a prize that I sought with great attention."

The Squadra Azzurra was shaken a bit, when last Wednesday, hours before the departure from Milano to Salzburg, Luca Paolini's home was searched by the Italian Police. The Carabinieri were working with anti-doping investigators of Bergamo in their investigation of athletes in the Lombardia region. Paolini, one of the athletes who frequented a gym in question, came off clear, but he was afraid of disturbing his team leader's concentration.

"Luca tried to remain calm," Bettini confirmed. "He said that 'If I disrupt the team then I will pull out.' We remained close with him, giving him our trust."

Bettini stepped on the top step of the podium in Salzburg, flanked by two classy riders. On the Italian's left was Erik Zabel, long-time respected winner in cycling, and on his right Alejandro Valverde, fast up and comer and current ProTour leader.

"To battle and win against Zabel and Valverde in the sprint is a huge satisfaction. Also to see that Zabel was happy for me. He is cycling. I hope that he does not give up and that he will win the Worlds in the future."

"The final corner before the tunnel we took very fast. There was not space, but I closed my eyes and passed. A millimeter less and I would have ended on the ground. I had to risk it to remain with the first riders. We tried all day to make the selection and then it comes down to a curve."

World Championships, Salzburg (Austria), 24 & 24 September
Worlds Preview
Time Trial, Profile, Overall Map, TT Startlist
Road Race, Profile, Overall Map, RR Startlist

Bettini: Olympics-Worlds Double

Paolo Bettini (32), the 17th Italian to win the World Championships, became only the third rider in the history of cycling to win the Worlds after having won the Olympic Gold medal. Before il Grillo conquered this double, there were Ercole Baldini (1956 and 1958) and Hennie Kuiper (1972 and 1975).

Golden DS Franco Ballerini

Italian National DS, Franco Ballerini, has done it again. After having his back to the wall last year, after a failure in Madrid, Il Toscano gave Italy another gold medal; the third time since he turned into Director Sportif in 2001. Ballerini won the World Championship with Mario Cipollini in 2002, the 2004 Olympics with Paolo Bettini and again with Bettini yesterday in Salzburg.

"Ballerini is grande," said Bettini after the race. "Ballerini did so well, after being a racer, then immediately becoming a DS. He is doing well, very well."

Ballerini directed the Squadra Azzurra from behind, riding in the team car, for the full 266 kilometers of the World Championships. First overseeing the escape of Italians Rinaldo Nocentini and Matteo Tosatto, then the power-plays of Alessandro Ballan, Danilo Di Luca, Filippo Pozzato, Luca Paolini, Davide Rebellin and, of course, Paolo Bettini.

Ballerini explains: "When Nocentini and Tosatto were in the first escape, I thought, what a great story we have begun to write. But I was concerned with continuing with what we had started. With seven laps to go, I said to the boys, 'Make a mess of this race,' and they responded perfectly."

"When I saw Hushovd tired on the climbs on the last lap, it was clear that we could also battle for the sprint. Was I afraid of losing? Yes, certainly. But if you have true warriors in your squadra then you don't have this fear."

After the party on the finish line, in Mirabellplatz, the Italians continued all night long at their team hotel.

"Mamma mia! What a victory," said Rebellin. Il Veronese was involved in two significant moves in the last two laps that helped weaken the sprinters for a Bettini win.

"Everything went perfect," commented Pozzato, the 2006 Milano-Sanremo winner. "I felt great, and I demonstrated to be a rider that can be counted on. I did not try to make my own race. I am young and I hope that in the future this will give me the possibilities to race as a leader [of the Squadra Azzurra]."

Simoni - Italian Champion

Yesterday, Gilberto Simoni (Saunier Duval-Prodir) became Italian Marathon Mountain Bike Champion. The 35 year-old Trentino, two-time winner of the Giro d'Italia, won the championship yesterday in Costa di Folgaria (Trento).

"I am only doing this for fun," said Simoni after the win.

It was only Simoni's third race in this specialty. In August, at the urging of bike supplier Scott, he decided to race a series of mountain bike races. Other races on Simoni's off road schedule include: Gimondi Bike and Roc d'Azur (Nice, France).

Read:
Simoni Wins in Mountain Bike, 11 September
Simoni Goes Off Road, 1 September

Rainbow Jersey in Züri Metzgete

Paolo Bettini (Quick-Step) will make his debut as 2006 World Champion this Sunday in the 93rd Züri Metzgete (or the Championship of Zurich).

Il Grillo Livornese is a two-time winner of this event, in 2001 and 2005. Last year in Zurich, after he had just come off the bitter disappointment of losing the World Championship, he took his anger out on his rivals by stomping to victory in horrid weather conditions.

23 September News ...