Paolo Bettini was one potential champion in that squad. But Bettini, also known as the "Cricket" for his constant jumps (attacks), didn't have the looks, charisma and ego of Super Mario and the other Italian superstar Micheli Bartoli. Bettini is short, balding and has an unconventional position on the bike, which is quite the opposite of the classic stance of Cipollini and Bartoli.
Bike positioning nevertheless, Bettini is probably the best one day rider of his generation who has not won the Worlds. He has won lots of classics and the 2004 Olympics yet the rainbow jersey, through inter-team rivalry or poor tactics, seems to elude him. In 2001, when he was the strongest, Bartoli, his former tutor and trade teammate, refused to lead him out of the sprint and Italy ended losing to Oscar Freire of Spain. In 2003, he failed to chase Spain's Igor Astarloa in the closing moments of the race. Last year, Italian coach Franco Ballerini selected Alessandro Petacchi over Bettini, only for Petacchi to wilt in the end.
This year, while Italy spoke as a team solidly behind Bettini, the individual riders' allegiance were still suspect. The other favorite was Spain's Alejandro Valverde, the Vuelta a Espana runner-up that ended a week ago.
The race started with the usual suicidal breakaway, which is always doomed to fail in a 265 km, 6 hour race. This year's Worlds was held in Salzburg, Austria, in a 22.2 km circuit where the riders would ride 12 times. There were two 500 meter plus climbs per lap (similar to climbing Budlaan 44 times in the race!) which was expected to whittle the peloton down.
There were lots of breakaways during the race but the Italians, Austrians, Australians and the Spaniards closed it down. It was gruppo compatto in the final lap. Attacks came from every direction but with the stakes so high, nobody would let anyone go.
An Italian rider led the 55 rider group with a K to when two Spaniards moved to the front. Samuel Sanchez took over the lead with Valverde, German Erik Zabel, Bettini and the other Spaniard Xavier Florencio behind him going into the final 600m. Just after the 500m mark was a tunnel and what happened next wasn't clear on TV. But obviously, whwat happened in that tunnel was an old racing trick! Florencio stopped pedaling, held up the riders behind him for a few seconds and created a gap for the four riders ahead of him. And with speeds above 60kph, a 50 meter gap easily opened up between the peloton and the four riders. The gap could have been easily closed but with rival Aussie teammates Stuart O'Grady and Robbie McEwen afraid to close the gap and hand the win to the other, the four riders ahead could taste the rainbow jersey.
Sanchez led out the sprint with 300m to go. As Valverde tried to finish the job, Zabel moved up to his left with Bettini on his trail. If this was another race, Zabel would have won, Valverde second and Bettini third. But this is the Worlds, the only race that Bettini had not won when he should have won it years ago. Bettini's hunger was obvious as he passed by Zabel to the right with 50m to go.
I was another close call for Zabel who had more second places in the last two years than wins. Valverde said he was happy with his second but it was clear that he was disappointed with all the work done by his team.
In the Italian team, it was pandemonium! There was celebration and you know how the Italians know how to celebrate. After all the setbacks and frustrations, Bettini has his rainbow jersey for a year and he promised to honor it as a World Champion should.
Finally, the entire cricket-nation of Italy was chirping.