After a rather lacklustre season, Paolo Bettini won a hard fought sprint to take the Worlds road race for the second time. As I type, Bettini is in tears at the post race interview. He puts the win down to great team work which, if it wasn't for Eurosport getting their published schedule wrong (again), I might have got to see. What I did see was Bettini urging the break on in the last lap and attacking on every climb. Kolobnev went early with Schleck, Evans and Schumacher rounding out the final sprint. In a situation like that everyone knew Bettini would probably take it and it looked to me like Bettini knew it too, powering past a brave Kolobnev in the final few metres.
Notwithstanding the doping rumours around Bettini over the last few months (certainly his results wouldn't indicate it but as always, who knows?) and the pre-race shenanigans, I'm pleased to see Bettini win it. I admire his conviction in not signing the UCI code. There is enough doubt in testing processes that having to give up your past year's income on the basis of a false test seems a real risk. His past season hasn't set the world on fire and the death of his brother last year must have been difficult. Plus, I just like the way he rides.
Seeing Bettini in tears at the end of end of the race and whilst singing the Italian anthem at the end of the race reminds us that even given the farce that was this years' Tour cycling is both inspiring and emotional.
Just like it always should be.
(Special thanks to Eurosport for helping me to miss the first half of the race. Nice one. Again.)
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