Paolo Bettini

Paolo Bettini ( born April 1, 1974 in Cecina, Italy ) is an Italian former racing cyclist and sports director.

Career

Bettini is one of the best racers of his generation for heavy day race, who won by his qualities as Puncheur numerous races. His nickname il Grillo, the cricket, he acquired as to drive away in the jump by its ability to a field.

During his career Bettini won five monuments of cycling, namely Milan - Sanremo once and two times Liège -Bastogne- Liège and the Tour of Lombardy. He was at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens Olympic champion in road driving and in the years 2006 and 2007 world cycling championships. His strength in the classics, he underlined by three times the overall victory in the cycling World Cup.

Eight days after his victory at the 2006 World Championships in Madrid crashed brother Sauro Bettini, to which he had a very close relationship, died in a car accident. Bettini thought to the End of career, but his family persuaded him to carry on. Two weeks later Bettini started at the Tour of Lombardy and won the important autumn classics after 2005 for the second time. Bettini dedicated this victory to his brother.

Prior to the road Road Cycling World Championships 2007, Paolo Bettini refused to sign as required by the International Cycling Union UCI affidavit without reservations. There was the view that this was a prerequisite for the World Cup start, and the agreement between the UCI and the city of Stuttgart, the World Cup organizers before see, not to let racers without a signed affidavit start. After the organizing committee of the World Cup had unsuccessfully sought an injunction against the launch of Paolo Bettini at the Landgericht Stuttgart, he was finally able to start.

At the end of the 2008 season Bettini came from professional bicycle racing back as Active.

In May 2010, as the successor of Bettini was in February 2010 fatalities Franco Ballerini new Commissario Tecnico - Sports Director - the Italian national road and remained in this position till the end of 2013.

Achievements

1998

1999

2000

  • Liege -Bastogne- Liege
  • A stage of the Tour de France

2001

  • Two stages of the Tour de Langkawi
  • Championship of Zurich
  • Coppa Placci
  • Giro della Provincia di a stage Lucca
  • World Championships road race

2002

  • Giro Riviera Ligure Ponente and two stages
  • A stage of Tirreno- Adriatico
  • Liege -Bastogne- Liege
  • Tour de la Région Wallonne and a stage
  • Lazio Tour
  • Coppa Sabatini
  • Giro della Provincia di a stage Lucca
  • UCI World Cup

2003

  • Mediterranean tour and Scoring
  • Milan - Sanremo
  • Italy Italian road championship
  • HEW cyclassics
  • Clasica San Sebastian
  • UCI World Cup
  • World ranking first end of the season

2004

  • A stage Mediterranean cruise
  • Tirreno- Adriatico and two stages
  • A stage in the Tour de Suisse
  • GP Città di Camaiore
  • Olympic road race
  • A stage Circuit Franco -Belge
  • UCI World Cup

2005

  • A stage and Maglia Ciclamino Giro d'Italia
  • A stage in the Vuelta a España
  • Championship of Zurich
  • Tour of Lombardy

2006

  • GP Lugano
  • Two stages Tirreno- Adriatico
  • A stage and Maglia Ciclamino Giro d'Italia
  • Italy Italian road championships
  • A stage in the Vuelta a España
  • Road World Championships
  • Tour of Lombardy

2007

2008

  • A stage in Tour of Austria
  • Trofeo Matteotti
  • A stage of the Tour de Wallonie
  • Two stages of the Vuelta a España

Awards

  • Commander of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic in 2004
  • Vélo d' Or 2006
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