Italian national coach Paolo Bettini has announced his first ever team for the World Championships, to be held in Melbourne, Australia next month. The two-time World champion from La California, in Tuscany, presented the list of riders to a press conference at the headquarters of the Italian Olympic Committee in Rome, according to la Gazzetta dello Sport.
The first name on Bettini’s list is that of former Italian champion Filippo Pozzato (Katusha), who will lead the team alongside Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas-Doimo). Both riders are currently riding the Vuelta a España, with Nibali sitting in second place overall having led the race for two days.
Since the debacle in Lisbon 2001 where the Italians chased each other, the team taken to the World Championships has been dedicated to winning rather than supporting the egos of the big stars. Prominent names missing from the list are 2008 champion Alessandro Ballan and sprinter Daniele Bennati, although neither rider has performed to his previous level this season.
Also presented at the press conference was the new maglia azzurra (blue jersey) to be worn at the championships. The jersey features a dedication to the late Franceo Ballerini, who died in a motor racing accident in February this year; a message simply says “Ballero sempre con noi” (Ballero always with us).
Italian team for Melbourne World Championships:
Filippo Pozzato (Team Katusha)
Marzio Bruseghin (Caisse d'Epargne)
Francesco Gavazzi (Lampre-Farnese Vini)
Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas-Doimo)
Daniel Oss (Liquigas-Doimo)
Luca Paolini (Acqua & Sapone)
Marco Pinotti (HTC-Columbia)
Matteo Tosatto (Quick Step)
Giovanni Visconti (ISD-Neri)
Reserves:
Rinaldo Nocentini (AG2R-La Mondiale)
Andrea Tonti (Carmiooro-NGC)
Time trial:
Marco Pinotti (HTC-Columbia)