After defending champion Paolo Bettini (Italy, Quicksrep) won friday's court case against the local organizing committee of
the World Championships in Stuttgart, he didn't only start but also won Sunday's road race.
The 267,4 kilometer long race started rather slow as Marlon Perez (Columbia) and French rider Stéphane
Augé attacked. The two race leaders were later joined by Russian rider Sergey Kolesnikov. After 4 laps the three men had a
lead of more than 5 minutes.
In the fifth lap the Italians opened the fight for the rainbow jersey. A group of 40
riders broke away. In that group: Damiano Cunego (Italy), Carlos Sastre (Spain), George Hincapie (USA), Jens Voigt (Germany)
and Stijn Devolder (Belgium). The Dutch team, who had missed the boat entirely, started to organize the chase. The Dutch
team caught the escapees, only Ukrainian rider Ruslan Pidgorny tried to stay at the front but soon the Dutch squad
caught him as well.
After the regroup there was another sizeable attack. 30 riders broke away, among them
riders like Juan Antonio Flecha (Spain), Jens Voigt (Germany), Alessandro Ballan and Damiano Cunego (both Italy). The Dutch
team came to the front of the bunch again to lead the chase.
With three laps to go the Australians came to the front and with a helping hand from the Spanish squad finally
brought the pack together again. With two laps to go Italy's Davide Rebellin attacked. The Gerolsteiner rider was joined by
Russian rider Alexander Kolobnev. The breakaway pair had a maximum lead of 35 seconds as the Spanish squad came to the front
of what was left of the bunch to start the chase. Rebellin and CSC's Kolobnev were caught with 16 kilometers to go.
Repeated attacks of Belgian rider Philippe Gilbert, Germany's Fabian Wegmann and Dutch routinier Michael
Boogerd whittle the bunch down to a group of 15 riders. Only 4 riders were able to follow another acceleration of Paolo
Bettini, the final leading group of 5 riders rode to the finish: Paolo Bettini (Italy), Alexander Kolobnev (Russia),
Stefan Schumacher (Germany), Cadel Evans (Australia) and Fränk Schleck (Luxembourg).
Evans and Schleck attacked but they didn't get away. With 25 meters to go it was Kolobnev who launched
the sprint, but Bettini reacted immediatly and outsprinted his fellow escapees. Kolobnev won the silver medal and Schumacher
grabbed the final podium spot. Paolo Bettini is the first rider who was able to defend his world title since Italy's Gianni
Bugno in 1991 and 1992.
After the race an emotional Paolo Bettini cried. Bettini said: "It was not an easy win
and I say thanks to all of Italy." The 'old' and new world champion added: "It was a difficult week.
They accused me of everything and I responded with victory."
Bettini continued by saying: "I was really angry. Cycling is a very hard sport but today
my anger won over my tiredness."
Bettini was happy with the performance of the Italian squad: "The team performed
well. Bettini was angry, but Italy was angry too." The world champion cincluded with: "I have been through a lot this year
[Bettini's brother dies shorty after the 2006 world championships], I always perform well in difficult times."
UCI president Pat McQuaid called Bettini "a beautiful champion who deserves
our full admiration."
"Paolo came, saw and won! He is the well deserved winner of this beautiful race," McQuaid
added.
Women
Defending champ Marianne Vos (Netherlands) won the silver medal on Saturday's women's road race. The rainbow
jersey was won by Italy's Marta Bastianelli. Bastianelli won the race after she attacked out of a breakaway group with 15
kilometers to go. Giorgia Bronzini (Italy) came in third.
U 23
After Gerald Ciolek won the U 23 road race at last years World Championships in Salzburg, it was another Wiesenhof
rider who grabbed the gold medal at this years U 23 road race in Stuttgart. Slovakian rider Peter Velits won the race.
Velits won the bunch sprint after all riders came together again with 5 kilometers to go. Australian rider Wesley
Sulzberger came in second and Great Brittain's Jonathan Bellis came in third.
