Italy Worlds Team!?

[tretow95]

Pozzato
Visconti
Nibali
Paolini
Gavazzi
Bruzeghin
Tosatto
Oss
Pinotti

bit of a suprise leaving cunego out but to be fair he hasnt performed well enough unlike visconti and nibali...

however with pozzato as the only guy whose ever won a classic ( or race over 250kms) he is probably the only potential winner....

what are your views on the team and their chances?

 

[royalpig180]

I don't think that only having one accomplished classics winners is really a problem--you only want to have one true leader for a race that comes down to a sprint. I think they could have done well to include a pure sprinter just in case the race does come down to a larger group, but Bettini seems convince that that ain't happening.

I like including Nibali for a breakaway but he might be cooked after the Vuelta...
Only time will tell.

 

[MADRAZO]

Pozzato
Visconti
Nibali
Paolini
Gavazzi
Bruzeghin
Tosatto
Oss
Pinotti

bit of a suprise leaving cunego out but to be fair he hasnt performed well enough unlike visconti and nibali...

however with pozzato as the only guy whose ever won a classic ( or race over 250kms) he is probably the only potential winner....

what are your views on the team and their chances?

I really dont get why Tosatto always gets picked for Italy. Even if he only rides as a pure helper there have to be much better possibilities as such. Chiarini, Santambroggio, Marcato, Carrara, Muto, Caruso, Caruso just to mention a few

I guess it does not hurt that he is friends with Bettini (and was with Ballerini)

 

[The Hitch]

I think Visconti should be the leader. Maybe Pozzato but i like Visconti. Multiple times Italian champion and very underated. He is a sprinter who is good enough to last the climbs. Course suits him.

 

[rhubroma]

I really dont get why Tosatto always gets picked for Italy. Even if he only rides as a pure helper there have to be much better possibilities as such. Chiarini, Santambroggio, Marcato, Carrara, Muto, Caruso, Caruso just to mention a few

I guess it does not hurt that he is friends with Bettini (and was with Ballerini)

He's a good work horse and has better qualities to fill that role than the others you have mentioned and has experience. Proven riliability is what Bettini has considered. And in this he is following the philosophy of his deceased predecessor and friend. And Bettini must feel a sense of gratitude for the role Tosatto played in his own titles.

I'm not confident though, that Italy can build a sucessful team around Pozzato. He rarely comes up with the goods. Bettini was a real jewel in the crown in this sense. When he was on his day, in his terrain, he was practically unbeatable. Finding his replacement, in the wider picture, is the real future dilemma for the Squadra Azzura.

 

[blaxland]

With this Italian team selection it shows that Bettini thinks this race will be tough....and probably not finish in a big bunch sprint...lets hope the Italians ride/make a hard race.Visconti would be my bet.

 

[jaylew]

I don't really like the selection, honestly. I'm really surprised Ballan and Bennati weren't picked. Benna seems to be regaining some form and is one of the sprinters who can sometimes be there when others aren't. Seems like it's all in for Pipo without much of a backup plan, though I guess Visconti would be it.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Ballan is very unlucky. This is a good course for him and some of the others don't quite fit the course requirements.

 

[Michele]

I really dont get why Tosatto always gets picked for Italy. Even if he only rides as a pure helper there have to be much better possibilities as such. Chiarini, Santambroggio, Marcato, Carrara, Muto, Caruso, Caruso just to mention a few

I guess it does not hurt that he is friends with Bettini (and was with Ballerini)

Exactly, Bettini is keeping the same way of Ballerini, bringing their old friends.

I think Visconti should be the leader. Maybe Pozzato but i like Visconti. Multiple times Italian champion and very underated. He is a sprinter who is good enough to last the climbs. Course suits him.

Since when?
He's fast but for small groups.

I don't really like the selection, honestly. I'm really surprised Ballan and Bennati weren't picked. Benna seems to be regaining some form and is one of the sprinters who can sometimes be there when others aren't. Seems like it's all in for Pipo without much of a backup plan, though I guess Visconti would be it.

Bennati no, but to have someone like a Petacchi (Im not a fan of him, but he's the best sprinter Italy has at the moment) would allow the team to have a B plan in case there's a bunch sprint.

 

[Vonn Brinkman]

Ballan should have been on the Worlds team. Even though Nibali's form might be great, this course is one for Ballan. But overall good choices by Bettini, I think Italy has a good chance of at least finishing on the podium. Visconti and Pozzato are both very good in sprints when they arrive in a group of 30 or so. Italy should really pull on the climbs to drop sprinters like Hushovd, then they have a great chance of winning.

 

[hrotha]

I would have picked Bennati. At least if there's a bunch sprint finish you won't look like an idiot.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

I would have picked Bennati. At least if there's a bunch sprint finish you won't look like an idiot.

pozzato can do very well in a sprint after this kinda distance.
Pozzato is my next favorite for this race, after then mighty gilbert

 

[roundabout]

There are faster people than Bennati who need to be dropped for him to have a chance of winning. In a small bunch sprint against people like Hushovd he isn't likely to win. If people like Hushovd are dropped then Pozzato and/or Visconti are as likely winners as Bennati.

 

[craig1985]

There couldn't have been a lot in the call by Bettini to leave Bennati at home, I mean they flew him out to Australia to do the recce. I don't see the logic in forking out a return business class airfare to Melbourne for a guy who has zero chance of making the squad.

 

[rolfrae]

There couldn't have been a lot in the call by Bettini to leave Bennati at home, I mean they flew him out to Australia to do the recce. I don't see the logic in forking out a return business class airfare to Melbourne for a guy who has zero chance of making the squad.

I recall reading that the Italians who recced the course paid for their own flights.

 

[Leopejo]

Bettini follows in Ballerini's footsteps more literally than people imagine. Not only were they great friends, but Ballerini already had ideas of leaving the job - to Bettini. They shared notes and opinions about Worlds.

And it was Ballerini who, after reconnoitering the course, decided it wasn't for the fast wheels.

This said, I'm not that confident this year. The Italian team might be solid, but lacks a big favourite. The same could be said of the Spanish (not that they'd have worked, see last year's suicide). So I wonder whether strong teams will keep the race in control, or will it be chaotic from start to finish.

P.S. Ballan is quite bitter on his exclusion. He acknowledges he isn't in the best of shapes, but he thinks he could have given a hand - after all he considers himself one of those few, who are still there when the real race starts, that is, after 200 km.