World Cycling Championships: the 10 Azzurri chosen by Daniele Bennati

The coach has selected the riders who will fly to Australia for the rainbow event.

Daniele Bennati wanted to wait for the races in Canada before selecting the 10 who will fly to Australia and from whom the starters will emerge for the road race on Sunday, September 25. He could thus admire a ready and responsive Andrea Bagioli and an Alberto Bettiol growing in condition: “I would say we have Bettiol and Trentin pillars. Bagioli in clear growth,” commented the Tuscan coach at the end of the GP of Canada.

The group drawn by the Italian CT relies mainly on the freshness of athletes already protagonists among the U23s such as Battistella, Bagioli and Zana. Also included are two cronomen like Affini and Sobrero, who have long been at the top international level in time trials. Should they be fielded in the road test they would make their debut at a road world championship. A choice, this one by the Italian coach, that has an exact valence related to the Australian course. And then there are the experienced men, those able to pilot the team in the decisive moments. The running captains or coaches: Matteo Trentin, European champion in 2018 and vice world champion in 2019, and Alberto Bettiol. For them, a role similar to the one Bennati himself has often occupied in the race: “We are not favorites,” recalled the coach in indicating the roster, “but it is an unpredictable lineup, with athletes who when they have worn the blue jersey have often done well.

Bennati will leave with part of the team on Sept. 16 from Milan. To indicate the reserves there is time: “I will make the evaluations after the training sessions on site. I am sure that the boys will give their best and honor the Jersey, as it has always been for Italian national cycling teams.”

Azzurri summoned

Affini Edoardo (Jumbo Visma)
Ballerini Davide (Quick Step Alpha Vynil)
Bagioli Andrea (Quick Step Alpha Vynil)
Battistella Samuele (Astana Qazaqstan)
Bettiol Alberto (EF Education Easypost)
Conci Nicola (Alpecin Deceuninck Development)
Rota Lorenzo (IntermarchE Wanty Gobert)
Sobrero Matteo (Bike Exchange Jayco)
Trentin Matteo (UAE Emirates)
Zana Filippo (Bardiani CSF Faizanè)