The Italian squadra is not one of the strongest teams for this year’s men’s World Championships road race but team leader Alberto Bettiol is happy to fly under the radar, confident of his own ability and form after three roller coaster seasons that have tested his resolve but made him stronger.
The Tuscan EF Education-EasyPost rider won the 2019 Tour of Flanders but has since faced a series of problems. However, riding this year’s Tour de France, and almost winning the stage to Mende, got him physically back on track and mentally confident for the World Championships.
“I know I’m the designated leader of the Italian team but I’m not under pressure and I feel good. I’m looking forward to the World, I’m not scared of whatever happens,” Bettiol tells Cyclingnews in an exclusive interview.
The Italian team has been under pressure at home after a dispute about senior staff being paid commissions for securing commercial sponsors. However Cordiano Dagnoni has hung onto his role as president and the Italian Olympic Committee have validated the decision to pay commissions to full time staff.
The summer polemics have overshadowed the work of new men’s coach Daniele Bennati but the former professional sprinter has quietly got on with his job, selecting Bettiol and Matteo Trentin as team leader after a spring trip to Australia to see the Wollongong course.
Also in the eight-rider Italian team are Andrea Bagioli, who was third at the recent Gran Prix Cycliste de Montréal, his QuickStep-AlphaVinyl teammate Davide Ballerini, plus Lorenzo Rota, Samuele Battistella, Eduardo Affini and Nicola Conci. Filippo Ganna turned down selection due to his plans to focus on the time trial and target the Hour Record and track World Championships.
“Daniele are both Tuscan, we raced in the same U23 teams, kow each other well and so we trust each other,” Bettiol says of Bennati, who follows in the long Italian tradition of Italian national coaches from Tuscany that go back to the legendary Alfredo Martini – Commissario Tecnico’ from 1975 to 1997- via Paolo Bettini and Franco Ballerini.
“I first spoke to Daniele about Worlds at the start of the year. Then he went to Australia, saw the route and even before telling me, he said in an interview it was a course that really suited me and named me as a team leader.
“I’ve committed to a leadership role and it’s lifted my confidence and focused my mind. I’ve been preparing for the World Championships all…
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