Paolo Bettini determined to win Gold at the World Championships and the London Olympics
Former Italian cyclist Paolo Bettini has casted his vote at the Amstel Gold Race. He noted that the Dutch race was an ideal opportunity to fine-tune ahead of the UCI World Road Championships.
Italian Cyclist Enrico Gasparotto of Team Lotto opened his 2012 winning account with a splendid performance during the race.
The Italian took a total time of 6 hours, 32 minutes and 35 seconds to claim the top podium spot at the 260.4 kilometre race.
Jelle Vanendert, Peter Sagan, Oscar Freire Gomez and Thomas Voeckler claimed the second, third, fourth and fifth positions in the respective order.
Bettini currently coaches the Italian National Team and he could not be happier after seeing his young Italian gun firing at the Dutch race.
Paolo believes that the Amstel Gold Race was a dress rehearsal for the UCI Road World Championships. He told Cyclingnews, "I’m already familiar with the roads because of 1998, but I was curious to see those first 100 kilometres".
'I saw it and I can say that these world championships will be another Amstel Gold Race. Those first 100 kilometres are more or less on the same roads as the Amstel Gold Race".
"It changes very little because it’s less than two kilometres from the top of the Cauberg to the finish. Whoever goes strong the last time up the Cauberg will go all the way to the finish," he concluded.
Paolo listed a name of his favourite Italian cyclists for the World Championships. He believes that Alejandro Valverde, Edvald Boasson Hagen, Joaquim Rodriguez, Peter Sagan and Samuel Sanchez hold the key for the coming events.
Bettini has a 15 year international experience on his resume and has represented a number of teams during his extensive career.
He started the professional pursuit with Team MG-Technogym (1997) and also rode for Team Asics (1998), Team Mapei (1999-2002) and Team Quick Step (2003-08).
Death of Italian National Coach Franco Ballerini opened the new doors for Bettini and he was given the responsibilities to coach the Italian team on June 17, 2010.
He is also eyeing the 2012 Olympic Games and is determined that the Italian team will secure the podium places at the mega event.
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