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{{short description|Italian cyclist}}
{{Short description|Italian cyclist (born 1974)}}
{{Infobox cyclist
{{Infobox cyclist
| name = Paolo Bettini
| name = Paolo Bettini
| image = Paolo Bettini profile.jpg
| image = Ct nazionale ciclismo.JPG
| caption = Paolo Bettini in 2007
| caption = Bettini in 2013
| fullname = Paolo Bettini
| fullname = Paolo Bettini
| nickname = Grillo
| nickname = Grillo
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1974|4|1|df=y}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1974|4|1|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Cecina, Tuscany|Cecina]], [[Italy]]
| birth_place = [[Cecina, Tuscany|Cecina]], Italy
| height = {{height|m=1.69|precision=0}}
| height = {{height|m=1.69|precision=0}}
| weight = {{convert|58|kg|lb st|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|58|kg|lb st|abbr=on}}
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| discipline = Road
| discipline = Road
| role = Rider
| role = Rider
| ridertype = Classics specialist/Sprinter
| ridertype = Classics specialist<br>[[Puncheur]]
| proyears1 = 1997
| proyears1 = 1997
| proteam1 = {{ct|GBM|1997}}
| proteam1 = {{UCI team code|GBM|1997}}
| proyears2 = 1998
| proyears2 = 1998
| proteam2 = [[Asics–CGA]]
| proteam2 = [[Asics–CGA]]
| proyears3 = 1999–2002
| proyears3 = 1999–2002
| proteam3 = {{ct|MAP|1999}}
| proteam3 = {{UCI team code|MAP|1999}}
| proyears4 = 2003–2008
| proyears4 = 2003–2008
| proteam4 = {{ct|QST|2003}}
| proteam4 = {{UCI team code|QST|2003}}
| majorwins = '''[[Grand Tour (cycling)|Grand Tours]]'''
| majorwins = '''[[Grand Tour (cycling)|Grand Tours]]'''
:'''[[Tour de France]]'''
:'''[[Tour de France]]'''
::1 individual stage
::1 individual stage ([[2000 Tour de France|2000]])
:'''[[Giro d'Italia]]'''
:'''[[Giro d'Italia]]'''
::[[Points classification in the Giro d'Italia|Points Classification]] ([[2005 Giro d'Italia|2005]], [[2006 Giro d'Italia|2006]])
::[[Points classification in the Giro d'Italia|Points classification]] ([[2005 Giro d'Italia|2005]], [[2006 Giro d'Italia|2006]])
::2 individual stages
::2 individual stages ([[2005 Giro d'Italia|2005]], [[2006 Giro d'Italia|2006]])
:'''[[Vuelta a España]]'''
:'''[[Vuelta a España]]'''
::5 individual stages
::5 individual stages ([[2005 Vuelta a España|2005]]–[[2008 Vuelta a España|2008]])
'''[[Race stage|Stage races]]'''
'''[[Race stage|Stage races]]'''
:[[Tirreno–Adriatico]] (2004)
:[[Tirreno–Adriatico]] ([[2004 Tirreno–Adriatico|2004]])
'''[[Classic cycle races|One-day races and Classics]]'''
'''[[Classic cycle races|One-day races and Classics]]'''
:[[UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race|World Road Championships]] ([[2006 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race|2006]], [[2007 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race|2007]])
:{{nowrap|[[Italian National Road Race Championship|National Road Race Championships]] (2003, 2006)}}
:[[Cycling at the 2004 Summer Olympics|Olympic Road Race]] ([[Cycling at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Men's road race|2004]])
:[[Cycling at the 2004 Summer Olympics|Olympic Road Race]] ([[Cycling at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Men's road race|2004]])
:[[UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race|World Road Race Championships]] ([[2006 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race|2006]], [[2007 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race|2007]])
:{{nowrap|[[Italian National Road Race Championship|National Road Race Championships]] (2003, 2006)}}
:[[Liège–Bastogne–Liège]] ([[2000 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|2000]], [[2002 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|2002]])
:[[Liège–Bastogne–Liège]] ([[2000 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|2000]], [[2002 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|2002]])
:[[Milan–San Remo]] ([[2003 Milan–San Remo|2003]])
:[[Milan–San Remo]] ([[2003 Milan–San Remo|2003]])
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'''Other'''
'''Other'''
:[[UCI Road World Cup]] ([[2002 UCI Road World Cup|2002]], [[2003 UCI Road World Cup|2003]], [[2004 UCI Road World Cup|2004]])
:[[UCI Road World Cup]] ([[2002 UCI Road World Cup|2002]], [[2003 UCI Road World Cup|2003]], [[2004 UCI Road World Cup|2004]])
:[[Velo d'Or]] (2006)
:[[Vélo d'Or]] (2006)
| show-medals = no
| show-medals = no
| medaltemplates =
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalSport | Men's [[road bicycle racing]] }}
{{MedalSport | Men's [[road bicycle racing]] }}
{{MedalCountry | {{ITA}} }}
{{MedalCountry | {{flagu|Italy}} }}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Olympic Games]] }}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Olympic Games]] }}
{{MedalGold | [[2004 Summer Olympics|2004 Athens]] | [[Cycling at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Men's road race|Road race]] }}
{{MedalGold | [[2004 Summer Olympics|2004 Athens]] | [[Cycling at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Men's road race|Road race]] }}
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}}
}}


'''Paolo Bettini''' (born 1 April 1974 in [[Cecina, Tuscany|Cecina]], [[Province of Livorno|Livorno]], [[Tuscany]]) is an [[Italy|Italian]] former champion [[road racing cyclist]], and the former coach of the Italian national cycling team. Considered the best [[classic cycle races|classics specialist]] of his generation, and probably one of the strongest of all times, he won gold medals in the [[2004 Athens Olympics]] road race and in the [[2006 UCI Road World Championships|2006]] and [[2007 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race|2007 World Road Race Championships]]. He is nicknamed ''Il Grillo'' ("the cricket") for his repeated sudden attacks and his [[Sprinting specialist (cycling)|sprinting]] style.
'''Paolo Bettini''' (born 1 April 1974 in [[Cecina, Tuscany|Cecina]], [[Province of Livorno|Livorno]], [[Tuscany]]) is an Italian former champion [[road racing cyclist]], and the former coach of the Italian national cycling team. Considered the best [[classic cycle races|classics specialist]] of his generation, and probably one of the strongest of all times, he won gold medals in the [[2004 Athens Olympics]] road race and in the [[2006 UCI Road World Championships|2006]] and [[2007 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race|2007 World Road Race Championships]]. He is nicknamed ''Il Grillo'' ("the cricket") for his repeated sudden attacks and his [[Sprinting specialist (cycling)|sprinting]] style.


He gained prominence by winning [[Liège–Bastogne–Liège]] in 2000 and 2002. He set the record for World Cup wins in a season in 2003, winning the [[Milan–San Remo]], [[HEW Cyclassics]] and [[Clásica de San Sebastián]]. He won the [[Giro di Lombardia]] in 2005 and 2006, the [[Züri-Metzgete]] in 2001 and 2005 and [[Tirreno–Adriatico]] in 2004.
He gained prominence by winning [[Liège–Bastogne–Liège]] in 2000 and 2002. He set the record for World Cup wins in a season in 2003, winning the [[Milan–San Remo]], [[HEW Cyclassics]] and [[Clásica de San Sebastián]]. He won the [[Giro di Lombardia]] in 2005 and 2006, the [[Züri-Metzgete]] in 2001 and 2005 and [[Tirreno–Adriatico]] in 2004.


==Early career==
==Career==
===Early career===
Paolo Bettini lived with his family on the [[Tuscany]] coast. He began racing when he was seven and won 23 of his first 24 races.<ref name="Cycling Weekly, UK, May 2002">''[[Cycling Weekly]]'', UK, May 2002</ref> His first bike had a secondhand frame which his father, Giuliano, had painted orange. The components were cannibalised from other bikes.<ref name="Cycling Weekly, UK, May 2002" /> He started racing after the encouragement of his brother.<ref name="Procycling, UK, November 2001">''[[Procycling]]'', UK, November 2001</ref>
Paolo Bettini lived with his family on the [[Tuscany]] coast. He began racing when he was seven and won 23 of his first 24 races.<ref name="Cycling Weekly, UK, May 2002">''[[Cycling Weekly]]'', UK, May 2002</ref> His first bike had a secondhand frame which his father, Giuliano, had painted orange. The components were cannibalised from other bikes.<ref name="Cycling Weekly, UK, May 2002" /> He started racing after the encouragement of his brother.<ref name="Procycling, UK, November 2001">''[[Procycling]]'', UK, November 2001</ref>


He came fourth in the world under-23 road championship in 1996, behind three other Italians, Giuliano Fugeras, Roberti Sgambelluri and Luca Sironi.<ref name="L'Équipe, France, 10 July 2000">''[[L'Équipe]]'', France, 10 July 2000</ref> He turned professional the following year for the MG-Technogym team. There he rode as [[Cycling domestique|domestique]] to [[Michele Bartoli]], "a [[working class]] cyclist," wrote Stephen Farrand, "destined to work for others to earn his crust."<ref name="Cycling Weekly, UK, May 2002" /> He worked for Bartoli, who in return helped with advice.<ref name="L'Équipe, France, 10 July 2000" /> Bartoli won the [[UCI Road World Cup|World Cup]] in [[1997 UCI Road World Cup|1997]] and [[1998 UCI Road World Cup|1998]] with Bettini's help.
He came fourth in the world under-23 road championship in 1996, behind three other Italians, Giuliano Fugeras, Roberti Sgambelluri and Luca Sironi.<ref name="L'Équipe, France, 10 July 2000">''[[L'Équipe]]'', France, 10 July 2000</ref> He turned professional the following year for the MG-Technogym team. There he rode as [[domestique]] to [[Michele Bartoli]], "a [[working class]] cyclist", wrote Stephen Farrand, "destined to work for others to earn his crust."<ref name="Cycling Weekly, UK, May 2002" /> He worked for Bartoli, who in return helped with advice.<ref name="L'Équipe, France, 10 July 2000" /> Bartoli won the [[UCI Road World Cup|World Cup]] in [[1997 UCI Road World Cup|1997]] and [[1998 UCI Road World Cup|1998]] with Bettini's help.
[[File:Bettini Placci 2001.jpg|thumb|left|Bettini winning the 2001 Coppa Placci]]

Bartoli fell heavily on a knee in 1999 and Bettini was freed to race for himself.<ref name="Vélo, France, December 2006">''[[Le Vélo|Vélo]]'', France, December 2006</ref> He won [[Liège–Bastogne–Liège]] in 2000 – treating himself to a €100,000 [[Porsche]]<ref name="Cycling Weekly, UK, May 2002" /> – and a flat stage of that year's Tour de France, from [[Agen]] to [[Dax, Landes|Dax]]. He won the 2001 [[Züri-Metzgete]] after a few months without wins, beating [[Jan Ullrich]] in the sprint to the finish. His success led to a feud with Bartoli. It culminated in the 2001 world championship in [[Lisbon]], Portugal, where Bartoli refused to lead Bettini to a flying start in the sprint finish and the Spaniard, [[Óscar Freire]], won instead.
[[File:Paolo Bettini cycling.jpg|thumb|left|Paolo Bettini in the Tour of California 2007.]]

Bartoli fell heavily on a knee in 1999 and Bettini was freed to race for himself.<ref name="Vélo, France, December 2006">''[[Le Vélo|Vélo]]'', France, December 2006</ref> He won [[Liège–Bastogne–Liège]] in 2000 – treating himself to a €100,000 [[Porsche]]<ref name="Cycling Weekly, UK, May 2002" /> – and a flat stage of that year's Tour de France, from [[Agen]] to [[Dax, Landes|Dax]]. He won the 2001 [[Züri-Metzgete]] after a few months without wins, beating [[Jan Ullrich]] in the sprint to the finish. His success led to a feud with Bartoli. It culminated in the 2001 world championship in [[Lisbon]], [[Portugal]], where Bartoli refused to lead Bettini to a flying start in the sprint finish and the Spaniard, [[Óscar Freire]], won instead.


===2002 World Cup and race season===
===2002 World Cup and race season===
The 2002 season was a breakthrough. In the World Cup, Bettini was caught in the final kilometers of Milan–San Remo. After his 1-2 win with [[Stefano Garzelli]] in Liège–Bastogne–Liège, Bettini ran neck-to-neck against Museeuw, who won [[Paris–Roubaix]] in a 50&nbsp;km solo breakaway, and the [[HEW Cyclassics]]. A tactical ride in [[Giro di Lombardia]] earned Bettini the World Cup.
The 2002 season was a breakthrough. In the World Cup, Bettini was caught in the final kilometers of Milan–San Remo. After his 1–2 win with [[Stefano Garzelli]] in Liège–Bastogne–Liège, Bettini ran neck-to-neck against Museeuw, who won [[Paris–Roubaix]] in a 50&nbsp;km solo breakaway, and the [[HEW Cyclassics]]. A tactical ride in [[Giro di Lombardia]] earned Bettini the World Cup.


Bettini played strong support in [[Mario Cipollini]]'s victory in the [[UCI Road Cycling World Championship]] in Zolder, [[Belgium]].
Bettini played strong support in [[Mario Cipollini]]'s victory in the [[UCI Road Cycling World Championship]] in Zolder, Belgium.


===2003 World Cup and race season===
===2003 World Cup and race season===
The 2003 World Cup series started with [[Milan–San Remo]]. Attacking twice in the last hills leading down to the Primavera, Bettini had the help of [[Luca Paolini]], who attacked down the tricky descent towards the finish.
The 2003 World Cup series started with [[Milan–San Remo]]. Attacking twice in the last hills leading down to the Primavera, Bettini had the help of [[Luca Paolini]], who attacked down the tricky descent towards the finish.


However, injury in the [[Gent–Wevelgem]] forced Bettini to miss several races until the Tour de France in July.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bike-zone.com/news/?id=2003/apr03/apr15news |title=www.cyclingnews.com – the world centre of cycling |publisher=Bike-zone.com |date= |accessdate=2012-10-23}}</ref> He then followed with a win in the [[HEW Cyclassics]] in front of Tour runner-up Jan Ullrich, and a win in the [[Clásica de San Sebastián]].
However, injury in the [[Gent–Wevelgem]] forced Bettini to miss several races until the Tour de France in July.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bike-zone.com/news/?id=2003/apr03/apr15news |title=www.cyclingnews.com – the world centre of cycling |publisher=Bike-zone.com |access-date=2012-10-23}}</ref> He then followed with a win in the [[HEW Cyclassics]] in front of Tour runner-up Jan Ullrich, and a win in the [[Clásica de San Sebastián]].


Bettini failed to win the [[UCI Road Cycling World Championship]] despite being favorite due to a mistake at the end of the race. Having established himself in the winning breakaway, hesitation allowed the Spaniard [[Igor Astarloa]] to break away to win. Astarloa claimed that Bettini had offered him money to relinquish the win, which Astarloa said he refused. A feud ensued, and Astarloa attributed his comment to a misunderstanding of Bettini's Italian.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dailypeloton.com/displayarticle.asp?pk=5050 |title=Pro Cycling News |publisher=Daily Peloton |date=2003-10-13 |accessdate=2012-10-23}}</ref>
Bettini failed to win the [[UCI Road Cycling World Championship]] despite being favorite due to a mistake at the end of the race. Having established himself in the winning breakaway, hesitation allowed the Spaniard [[Igor Astarloa]] to break away to win. Astarloa claimed that Bettini had offered him money to relinquish the win, which Astarloa said he refused. A feud ensued, and Astarloa attributed his comment to a misunderstanding of Bettini's Italian.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dailypeloton.com/displayarticle.asp?pk=5050 |title=Pro Cycling News |publisher=Daily Peloton |date=2003-10-13 |access-date=2012-10-23}}</ref>


===2004 World Cup and race season===
===2004 World Cup and race season===
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===2006 UCI ProTour and race season===
===2006 UCI ProTour and race season===
[[File:Bettini california.jpg|180px|right|thumb|Paolo Bettini in the World Champion's jersey in February 2007.]]
Bettini won the first race of the season, the ''Trofeo Soller'', which is part of the [[Challenge Mallorca]]. He also won the [[Gran Premio di Lugano]], two stages in the [[2006 Tirreno–Adriatico|Tirreno–Adriatico]] and the 15th stage in the [[2006 Giro d'Italia|Giro d'Italia]], where he won the [[Points classification in the Giro d'Italia|points classification]]. Following the Giro he became the [[Italian National Road Race Championships|Italian road champion]] and won a stage at the [[Vuelta a España]] before winning the [[2006 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race|world championship]].
Bettini won the first race of the season, the ''Trofeo Soller'', which is part of the [[Challenge Mallorca]]. He also won the [[Gran Premio di Lugano]], two stages in the [[2006 Tirreno–Adriatico|Tirreno–Adriatico]] and the 15th stage in the [[2006 Giro d'Italia|Giro d'Italia]], where he won the [[Points classification in the Giro d'Italia|points classification]]. Following the Giro he became the [[Italian National Road Race Championships|Italian road champion]] and won a stage at the [[Vuelta a España]] before winning the [[2006 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race|world championship]].


His brother Sauro died in a car accident a few days after that victory and Bettini was close to abandoning cycling. He changed his mind and won the [[2006 Giro di Lombardia|Giro di Lombardia]] in tears.
His brother Sauro died in a car accident a few days after that victory and Bettini was close to abandoning cycling. He changed his mind and won the [[2006 Giro di Lombardia|Giro di Lombardia]] in tears.


On 2 March 2007, the French magazine ''Velo'' awarded Bettini its [[Velo d'Or]] as best rider of 2006.<ref>[http://www.velonews.com/race/int/articles/11803.0.html] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070302075404/http://www.velonews.com/race/int/articles/11803.0.html |date=March 2, 2007 }}</ref>
On 2 March 2007, the French magazine ''Velo'' awarded Bettini its [[Vélo d'Or]] as best rider of 2006.<ref>[http://www.velonews.com/race/int/articles/11803.0.html] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070302075404/http://www.velonews.com/race/int/articles/11803.0.html |date=March 2, 2007 }}</ref>


===2007 UCI ProTour and race season===
===2007 UCI ProTour and race season===
[[File:E3 Harelbeke 2007, bettini (20251174292).jpg|thumb|upright|left|Bettini at the [[2007 E3 Harelbeke]] wearing the rainbow jersey]]
Bettini raced in the second annual 2.HC-rated [[2007 Tour of California]] and made it worth his while by capturing Stage 4 in a sprint finish. He later won the third stage of the [[2007 Vuelta a España|Vuelta a España]] and finished second in three more stages. Then he won once again the [[rainbow jersey]] of the Elite Men's Road at Stuttgart.
Bettini raced in the second annual 2.HC-rated [[2007 Tour of California]] and made it worth his while by capturing Stage 4 in a sprint finish. He later won the third stage of the [[2007 Vuelta a España|Vuelta a España]] and finished second in three more stages. Then he won once again the [[rainbow jersey]] of the Elite Men's Road at Stuttgart.


===2008 season===
===2008 season===
[[File:Paolo Bettini - Giro d'Italia 2008.jpg|180px|right|thumb|Paolo Bettini at the 2008 Giro d'Italia.]]
[[File:Paolo Bettini - 2008 (cropped).jpg|right|thumb|Paolo Bettini at the [[2008 Tour of California]].]]
Bettini's start was plagued by injuries, including a fall at the [[Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne]] and a rib broken when he fell on a wet descent in the [[Tour of the Basque Country]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.velonews.com/article/74576/paulo-bettini-breaks-a-rib-in-pais-vasco-crash |title=Paulo Bettini breaks a rib in Pais Vasco crash |publisher=Velonews.com |date=2008-04-12 |accessdate=2012-10-23}}</ref> He won the [[Trofeo Matteoti]] and stages at the [[Tour of Austria]] and [[Tour de Wallonie]]. He also won two stages at the [[Vuelta a España]], where he said he was leaving Quick Step after 10 years due to a financial dispute.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008//vuelta08/?id=results/vuelta0812 |title=www.cyclingnews.com presents the 63rd Vuelta a España |publisher=Autobus.cyclingnews.com |date=2008-09-21 |accessdate=2012-10-23}}</ref>
Bettini's start was plagued by injuries, including a fall at the [[Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne]] and a rib broken when he fell on a wet descent in the [[Tour of the Basque Country]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.velonews.com/article/74576/paulo-bettini-breaks-a-rib-in-pais-vasco-crash |title=Paulo Bettini breaks a rib in Pais Vasco crash |publisher=Velonews.com |date=2008-04-12 |access-date=2012-10-23}}</ref> He won the [[Trofeo Matteotti]] and stages at the [[Tour of Austria]] and [[Tour de Wallonie]]. He also won two stages at the [[Vuelta a España]], where he said he was leaving Quick Step after 10 years due to a financial dispute.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008//vuelta08/?id=results/vuelta0812 |title=www.cyclingnews.com presents the 63rd Vuelta a España |publisher=Autobus.cyclingnews.com |date=2008-09-21 |access-date=2012-10-23}}</ref>
On September 27 he announced his retirement.<ref>{{cite web |author= |url=http://www.bicycle.net/2008/italian-cycling-legend-paolo-bettini-announces-his-retirement-after-title-defence |title=Italian Cycling Legend Paolo Bettini Announces His Retirement After Title Defence |publisher=Bicycle.net |date=2008-09-27 |accessdate=2012-10-23}}</ref>
On September 27 he announced his retirement.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bicycle.net/2008/italian-cycling-legend-paolo-bettini-announces-his-retirement-after-title-defence |title=Italian Cycling Legend Paolo Bettini Announces His Retirement After Title Defence |publisher=Bicycle.net |date=2008-09-27 |access-date=2012-10-23}}</ref>
On 4 November, he fell during the Milan six-day and was taken to hospital unconscious.<ref>{{cite web |author=Door: redactie 4/11/08 – 16u34 |url=http://hln.be/hln/nl/952/Wielrennen/article/detail/476201/2008/11/04/Bettini-buiten-bewustzijn-na-zware-val-in-Zesdaagse-Milaan.dhtml |title=Geen breuken voor Bettini na zware val in Zesdaagse Milaan |language=nl |publisher=HLN.be |date=2009-11-08 |accessdate=2012-10-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717032640/http://www.hln.be/hln/nl/952/Wielrennen/article/detail/476201/2008/11/04/Bettini-buiten-bewustzijn-na-zware-val-in-Zesdaagse-Milaan.dhtml |archive-date=2012-07-17 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
On 4 November, he fell during the Milan six-day and was taken to hospital unconscious.<ref>{{cite web |author=Door: redactie 4/11/08 – 16u34 |url=http://hln.be/hln/nl/952/Wielrennen/article/detail/476201/2008/11/04/Bettini-buiten-bewustzijn-na-zware-val-in-Zesdaagse-Milaan.dhtml |title=Geen breuken voor Bettini na zware val in Zesdaagse Milaan |language=nl |publisher=HLN.be |date=2009-11-08 |access-date=2012-10-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717032640/http://www.hln.be/hln/nl/952/Wielrennen/article/detail/476201/2008/11/04/Bettini-buiten-bewustzijn-na-zware-val-in-Zesdaagse-Milaan.dhtml |archive-date=2012-07-17 |url-status=dead }}</ref>


===Coaching career===
===Coaching career===
On 17 June 2010, Bettini was named as the new Italian national coach, following the death of [[Franco Ballerini]] in a car accident earlier that year.<ref>{{cite web |author=Stephen Farrand |url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/bettini-confirmed-as-italian-national-coach |title=Bettini Confirmed As Italian National Coach |publisher=Cyclingnews.com |date= |accessdate=2012-10-23}}</ref> He left this role in 2014 to work with [[Fernando Alonso]] on his new cycling team in preparation for its launch in 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/bettini-ready-for-role-with-fernando-alonsos-team |title=Bettini ready for role with Fernando Alonso's team |last1=Farrand |first1=Stephen |date=29 May 2014 |website=[[cyclingnews.com]] |accessdate=29 May 2014}}</ref>
On 17 June 2010, Bettini was named as the new Italian national coach, following the death of [[Franco Ballerini]] in a car accident earlier that year.<ref>{{cite web |author=Stephen Farrand |url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/bettini-confirmed-as-italian-national-coach |title=Bettini Confirmed As Italian National Coach |publisher=Cyclingnews.com |access-date=2012-10-23}}</ref> He left this role in 2014 to work with [[Fernando Alonso]] on his new cycling team in preparation for its launch in 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/bettini-ready-for-role-with-fernando-alonsos-team |title=Bettini ready for role with Fernando Alonso's team |last1=Farrand |first1=Stephen |date=29 May 2014 |website=[[cyclingnews.com]] |access-date=29 May 2014}}</ref>


==Track racing==
==Track racing==
Bettini followed the path of riders before the 1970s and took up six-day racing in the winter. He rode at [[Munich]] and [[Grenoble]] in 2006. "I didn't do it for the money," he said. "I had that already. I did it through my love of racing, to see what it's like to race on a track."<ref name="Vélo, France, December 2006" /> The bankings proved trickier than the road, however, and his debut was described as "catastrophic" as he failed to get alongside his partner in the two-man relay race, the [[Madison (cycling)|madison]], and finished the first night "with fear in his face."<ref name="Vélo, France, December 2006" /> [[Charly Mottet]] said:
Bettini followed the path of riders before the 1970s and took up six-day racing in the winter. He rode at [[Munich]] and [[Grenoble]] in 2006. "I didn't do it for the money", he said. "I had that already. I did it through my love of racing, to see what it's like to race on a track."<ref name="Vélo, France, December 2006" /> The bankings proved trickier than the road, however, and his debut was described as "catastrophic" as he failed to get alongside his partner in the two-man relay race, the [[Madison (cycling)|madison]], and finished the first night "with fear in his face."<ref name="Vélo, France, December 2006" /> [[Charly Mottet]] said:


:I saw him at the start of the evening and he worried me. Two hours later, I can tell you, he had won the respect of the others. He was making proper changes,<ref>In a madison race, one rider races as the other circles the track slowly, to rest. The faster rider grabs the slower by the hand and hurls him into the race. It demands not only acrobatic skill and strength but the talent to get near the other rider in the first place, riding at 50kmh on a 250m track with up to 30 riders moving at different speeds.</ref> he was taking part in the race and he was going better and better. The others couldn't believe their eyes [''commencaient à ne plus voir le jour''].<ref name="Vélo, France, December 2006" />
:I saw him at the start of the evening and he worried me. Two hours later, I can tell you, he had won the respect of the others. He was making proper changes,<ref>In a madison race, one rider races as the other circles the track slowly, to rest. The faster rider grabs the slower by the hand and hurls him into the race. It demands not only acrobatic skill and strength but the talent to get near the other rider in the first place, riding at 50kmh on a 250m track with up to 30 riders moving at different speeds.</ref> he was taking part in the race and he was going better and better. The others couldn't believe their eyes [''commencaient à ne plus voir le jour''].<ref name="Vélo, France, December 2006" />
Line 122: Line 121:
===Major results===
===Major results===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
;1996
;1997
: 1st Stage 2 ([[Team Time Trial|TTT]]) [[Hofbrau Cup]]
: 1st Stage 8 [[Giro Ciclistico d'Italia]]
: 3rd [[Italian National Road Race Championships|Road race]], National Under-23 Road Championships
;1998
: 4th [[UCI Road World Championships – Men's under-23 road race|Road race]], [[1996 UCI Road World Championships|UCI Road World Under-23 Championships]]
: 9th Overall [[Grand Prix Guillaume Tell]]
;1997 <small>(1 pro win)</small>
: 1st Stage 2 ([[Team time trial|TTT]]) [[Hofbrau Cup]]
: 8th Overall [[1997 Tour de Langkawi|Tour de Langkawi]]
;1998 <small>(1)</small>
: 1st Stage 4a [[1998 Tour de Romandie|Tour de Romandie]]
: 1st Stage 4a [[1998 Tour de Romandie|Tour de Romandie]]
: 3rd [[Trofeo Laigueglia]]
: 3rd [[Gran Premio Bruno Beghelli]]
: 7th Overall [[1998 Giro d'Italia|Giro d'Italia]]
: 7th Overall [[1998 Giro d'Italia|Giro d'Italia]]
: 7th Overall [[Danmark Rundt]]
;1999
::1st [[File:Jersey polkadot.svg|20px]] Mountains classification
: 1st Overall [[Giro della Provincia di Lucca]]
: 7th [[Giro della Provincia di Reggio Calabria]]
: 8th Overall [[La Méditerranéenne|Tour Méditerranéen]]
: 8th [[1998 Züri-Metzgete|Züri-Metzgete]]
: 8th [[Coppa Sabatini]]
;1999 <small>(5)</small>
: 1st [[File:Jersey yellow.svg|20px]] Overall [[Giro della Provincia di Lucca]]
::1st Stage 1
::1st Stage 1
: 1st Stage 4 [[1999 Tirreno–Adriatico|Tirreno–Adriatico]]
: 1st Stage 4 [[1999 Tirreno–Adriatico|Tirreno–Adriatico]]
: 1st Stage 1 [[Volta a Galicia]]
: 2nd [[Milano–Torino]]
: 3rd Overall [[Settimana Internazionale di Coppi e Bartali]]
;2000
::1st Stage 2
: 4th [[1999 Züri-Metzgete|Züri-Metzgete]]
: 5th [[1999 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|Liège–Bastogne–Liège]]
: 6th Overall [[Tour of Galicia]]
::1st Stage 1
: 7th [[1999 GP Ouest–France|GP Ouest–France]]
: 7th [[Giro dell'Appennino]]
: 9th [[1999 Giro di Lombardia|Giro di Lombardia]]
: 9th [[Grand Prix of Aargau Canton]]
;2000 <small>(6)</small>
: 1st [[File:Jersey yellow.svg|20px]] Overall [[Settimana Internazionale di Coppi e Bartali|Memorial Cecchi Gori]]
::1st Stages 2 & 4
: 1st [[2000 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|Liège–Bastogne–Liège]]
: 1st [[2000 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|Liège–Bastogne–Liège]]
: 1st [[Vuelta a Mallorca|Trofeo Manacor]]
: 1st Stage 9 [[2000 Tour de France|Tour de France]]
: 1st Stage 9 [[2000 Tour de France|Tour de France]]
: 2nd [[Giro della Romagna]]
: 1st [[File:Jersey yellow.svg|20px]] Overall [[Memorial Cecchi Gori]]
: 4th [[2000 Clásica de San Sebastián|Clásica de San Sebastián]]
::1st Stages 2 & 4
: 4th [[2000 Paris–Tours|Paris–Tours]]
: 1st [[Trofeo Soller]]
: 5th [[Coppa Placci]]
;2001
: 7th [[Grand Prix de Fourmies]]
: 1st [[Züri-Metzgete|Züri–Metzgete]]
: 7th [[Giro della Provincia di Siracusa]]
: 2nd Overall [[Le Tour de Langkawi]]
: 9th [[Cycling at the 2000 Summer Olympics – Men's individual road race|Road race]], [[2000 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]
: 9th [[2000 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race|Road race]], [[2000 UCI Road World Championships|UCI Road World Championships]]
: 10th [[2000 Giro di Lombardia|Giro di Lombardia]]
: 10th [[Trofeo Pantalica]]
: 10th [[GP Industria & Artigianato di Larciano]]
;2001 <small>(5)</small>
: 1st [[2001 Züri-Metzgete|Züri-Metzgete]]
: 1st [[Coppa Placci]]
: 2nd Overall [[2001 Tour de Langkawi|Tour de Langkawi]]
::1st [[File:Jersey green.svg|20px]] Points classification
::1st Stages 3 & 11
::1st Stages 3 & 11
: 2nd [[File:Silver medal uci.svg|15px]] [[2001 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race|Road race]], [[2001 UCI Road World Championships|UCI Road World Championships]]
: 1st [[Coppa Placci]]
: 3rd [[Coppa Sabatini]]
: 1st Stage 4 [[Giro della Provincia di Lucca]]
: 4th Overall [[Giro della Provincia di Lucca]]
;2002
::1st Stage 4
: 5th [[2001 Milan–San Remo|Milan–San Remo]]
: 5th [[Tre Valli Varesine]]
: 5th [[Giro del Lazio]]
: 6th [[2001 HEW Cyclassics|HEW Cyclassics]]
: 9th [[Firenze–Pistoia]]
;2002 <small>(10)</small>
: 1st [[File:Mens World Cup leaders jersey.png|20px]] Overall [[2002 UCI Road World Cup|UCI Road World Cup]]
: 1st [[File:Mens World Cup leaders jersey.png|20px]] Overall [[2002 UCI Road World Cup|UCI Road World Cup]]
: 1st [[File:Jersey yellow.svg|20px]] Overall [[2002 Tour de la Région Wallonne|Tour de Wallonie]]
: 1st [[2002 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|Liège–Bastogne–Liège]]
: 1st [[File:Jersey yellow.svg|20px]] Overall [[Tour de Wallonie]]
::1st Stage 1
::1st Stage 1
: 1st Overall Giro Della Liguria
: 1st [[File:Jersey yellow.svg|20px]] Overall [[Giro della Liguria|Giro Riviera Ligure Pomente]]
::1st Stage 3 & 4
::1st Stage 3 & 4
: 1st [[2002 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|Liège–Bastogne–Liège]]
: 1st Overall Giro Riviera Ligure Pomente
::1st Stage 3 & 4
: 1st Stage 2 [[2002 Tirreno–Adriatico|Tirreno–Adriatico]]
: 1st [[Coppa Sabatini]]
: 1st [[Coppa Sabatini]]
: 1st [[Giro del Lazio]]
: 1st [[Giro del Lazio]]
: 1st Stage 1 [[Tour Méditerranéen]]
: 1st Stage 1 [[La Méditerranéenne|Tour Méditerranéen]]
: 1st Stage 3 [[Giro della Provincia di Lucca]]
;2003
: 2nd [[2002 Züri-Metzgete|Züri-Metzgete]]
: 2nd [[Giro di Toscana]]
: 4th Overall [[2002 Tirreno–Adriatico|Tirreno–Adriatico]]
::1st Stage 2
: 4th [[2002 E3 Prijs Vlaanderen|E3 Prijs Vlaanderen]]
: 4th [[2002 HEW Cyclassics|HEW Cyclassics]]
: 5th [[2002 Omloop Het Volk|Omloop Het Volk]]
: 6th [[Gran Premio Industria e Commercio di Prato]]
: 7th [[2002 Clásica de San Sebastián|Clásica de San Sebastián]]
: 7th [[Firenze–Pistoia]]
: 8th [[2002 Amstel Gold Race|Amstel Gold Race]]
: 8th [[Trofeo Laigueglia]]
: 10th [[Coppa Placci]]
;2003 <small>(5)</small>
: 1st [[File:Mens World Cup leaders jersey.png|20px]] Overall [[2003 UCI Road World Cup|UCI Road World Cup]]
: 1st [[File:Mens World Cup leaders jersey.png|20px]] Overall [[2003 UCI Road World Cup|UCI Road World Cup]]
: 1st [[File:Jersey italianflag.svg|20px]] [[Italian National Road Race Championship|Road race]], National Road Championships
: 1st [[File:Jersey italianflag.svg|20px]] [[Italian National Road Race Championship|Road race]], National Road Championships
: 1st [[File:Jersey yellow.svg|20px]] Overall [[Tour Méditerranéen]]
: 1st [[File:Jersey yellow.svg|20px]] Overall [[La Méditerranéenne|Tour Méditerranéen]]
::1st [[File:Jersey green.svg|20px]] Points classification
: 1st [[2003 Milan–San Remo|Milan–San Remo]]
: 1st [[2003 Milan–San Remo|Milan–San Remo]]
: 1st [[2003 HEW Cyclassics|HEW Cyclassics]]
: 1st [[2003 Clásica de San Sebastián|Clásica de San Sebastián]]
: 1st [[2003 Clásica de San Sebastián|Clásica de San Sebastián]]
: 1st [[2003 HEW Cyclassics|HEW Cyclassics]]
;2004
: 2nd [[Grand Prix of Aargau Canton]]
: 3rd [[2003 Omloop Het Volk|Omloop Het Volk]]
: 3rd [[2003 Züri-Metzgete|Züri-Metzgete]]
: 4th [[2003 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race|Road race]], [[2003 UCI Road World Championships|UCI Road World Championships]]
: 4th [[Trofeo Laigueglia]]
: 4th [[Gran Premio della Costa Etruschi]]
: 4th [[Vuelta a Mallorca|Trofeo Alcúdia]]
: 5th Overall [[2003 Tirreno–Adriatico|Tirreno–Adriatico]]
::1st [[File:Jersey red.svg|20px]] Points classification
: 5th [[2003 Tour du Haut Var|Tour du Haut Var]]
: 5th [[Gran Premio Città di Camaiore]]
: 5th [[Vuelta a Mallorca|Trofeo Manacor]]
: 8th [[Giro dell'Emilia]]
;2004 <small>(8)</small>
: 1st [[File:Mens World Cup leaders jersey.png|20px]] Overall [[2004 UCI Road World Cup|UCI Road World Cup]]
: 1st [[File:Mens World Cup leaders jersey.png|20px]] Overall [[2004 UCI Road World Cup|UCI Road World Cup]]
: 1st [[File:Gold medal olympic.svg|15px]] [[Cycling at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Men's individual road race|Road race]], [[2004 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]
: 1st [[File:Gold medal olympic.svg|15px]] [[Cycling at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Men's individual road race|Road race]], [[2004 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]
: 1st [[File:Jersey blue.svg|20px]] Overall [[2004 Tirreno–Adriatico|Tirreno–Adriatico]]
: 1st [[File:Jersey yellowred.svg|20px]] Overall [[2004 Tirreno–Adriatico|Tirreno–Adriatico]]
::1st Stage 4 & 6
::1st Stage 4 & 6
: 1st Stage 8 [[2004 Tour de Suisse|Tour de Suisse]]
: 1st Stage 2 [[Tour Méditerranéen]]
: 1st [[Gran Premio Città di Camaiore]]
: 1st [[Gran Premio Città di Camaiore]]
: 1st Stage 8 [[2004 Tour de Suisse|Tour de Suisse]]
;2005
: 2nd [[2004 Clásica de San Sebastián|Clásica de San Sebastián]]
: 2nd [[2004 HEW Cyclassics|HEW Cyclassics]]
: 2nd [[Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne]]
: 2nd [[2004 Züri-Metzgete|Züri-Metzgete]]
: 3rd [[2004 Amstel Gold Race|Amstel Gold Race]]
: 5th [[Brussels Cycling Classic|Paris–Brussels]]
: 5th [[Vuelta a Mallorca|Trofeo Palma de Mallorca]]
: 6th Overall [[La Méditerranéenne|Tour Méditerranéen]]
::1st Stage 2
: 6th [[2004 Paris–Tours|Paris–Tours]]
: 8th [[2004 Milan–San Remo|Milan–San Remo]]
: 8th [[Delta Profronde|Ronde van Midden-Zeeland]]
: 9th Overall [[Tour de l'Eurométropole|Circuit Franco-Belge]]
::1st Stage 1
: 9th [[2004 Tour of Flanders|Tour of Flanders]]
;2005 <small>(4)</small>
: 1st [[2005 Giro di Lombardia|Giro di Lombardia]]
: 1st [[2005 Züri-Metzgete|Züri–Metzgete]]
: [[2005 Giro d'Italia|Giro d'Italia]]
: [[2005 Giro d'Italia|Giro d'Italia]]
::1st [[File:Jersey violet.svg|20px]] [[Points classification in the Giro d'Italia|Points classification]]
::1st [[File:Jersey violet.svg|20px]] [[Points classification in the Giro d'Italia|Points classification]]
::1st Stage 1
::1st Stage 1
: 1st Stage 16 [[2005 Vuelta a España|Vuelta a España]]
: 1st Stage 16 [[2005 Vuelta a España|Vuelta a España]]
: 2nd [[Gran Premio Bruno Beghelli]]
: 1st [[2005 Giro di Lombardia|Giro di Lombardia]]
: 4th [[2005 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|Liège–Bastogne–Liège]]
: 1st [[2005 Züri-Metzgete|Züri–Metzgete]]
: 7th [[Vuelta a Mallorca|Trofeo Palma de Mallorca]]
;2006
;2006 <small>(9)</small>
: 1st [[File:Jersey rainbow.svg|20px]] [[2006 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race|Road race]], [[2006 UCI Road World Championships|UCI Road World Championships]]
: 1st [[File:Jersey rainbow.svg|20px]] [[2006 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race|Road race]], [[2006 UCI Road World Championships|UCI Road World Championships]]
: 1st [[File:Jersey italianflag.svg|20px]] [[Italian National Road Race Championship|Road race]], National Road Championships
: 1st [[File:Jersey italianflag.svg|20px]] [[Italian National Road Race Championship|Road race]], National Road Championships
: 1st [[2006 Giro di Lombardia|Giro di Lombardia]]
: 1st [[Gran Premio di Lugano]]
: 1st [[Vuelta a Mallorca|Trofeo Sóller]]
: [[2006 Giro d'Italia|Giro d'Italia]]
: [[2006 Giro d'Italia|Giro d'Italia]]
::1st [[File:Jersey violet.svg|20px]] [[Points classification in the Giro d'Italia|Points classification]]
::1st [[File:Jersey violet.svg|20px]] [[Points classification in the Giro d'Italia|Points classification]]
::1st Stage 15
::1st Stage 15
: 1st Stage 2 [[2006 Vuelta a España|Vuelta a España]]
: 1st Stage 2 [[2006 Vuelta a España|Vuelta a España]]
: 1st [[2006 Giro di Lombardia|Giro di Lombardia]]
: [[2006 Tirreno–Adriatico|Tirreno–Adriatico]]
: [[2006 Tirreno–Adriatico|Tirreno–Adriatico]]
::1st Stage 1 & 2
::1st Stage 1 & 2
: 2nd [[2006 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|Liège–Bastogne–Liège]]
: 1st [[Trofeo Soller]]
: 1st [[Gran Premio di Lugano]]
: 3rd [[Vuelta a Mallorca|Trofeo Pollença]]
: 3rd [[Vuelta a Mallorca|Trofeo Cala Millor]]
;2007
: 7th [[2006 Tour of Flanders|Tour of Flanders]]
: 8th [[2006 Amstel Gold Race|Amstel Gold Race]]
: 9th [[Trofeo Laigueglia]]
: 9th [[Vuelta a Mallorca|Trofeo Palma de Mallorca]]
;2007 <small>(3)</small>
: 1st [[File:Jersey rainbow.svg|20px]] [[2007 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race|Road race]], [[2007 UCI Road World Championships|UCI Road World Championships]]
: 1st [[File:Jersey rainbow.svg|20px]] [[2007 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race|Road race]], [[2007 UCI Road World Championships|UCI Road World Championships]]
: 1st Stage 3 [[2007 Vuelta a España|Vuelta a España]]
: 1st Stage 3 [[2007 Vuelta a España|Vuelta a España]]
: 1st Stage 4 [[2007 Tour of California|Tour of California]]
: 1st Stage 4 [[2007 Tour of California|Tour of California]]
: 4th [[2007 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|Liège–Bastogne–Liège]]
;2008
: 6th [[2007 Amstel Gold Race|Amstel Gold Race]]
: 7th [[2007 Vattenfall Cyclassics|Vattenfall Cyclassics]]
: 7th [[Firenze–Pistoia]]
;2008 <small>(5)</small>
: 1st [[Trofeo Matteotti]]
: [[2008 Vuelta a España|Vuelta a España]]
: [[2008 Vuelta a España|Vuelta a España]]
::1st Stage 6 & 12
::1st Stage 6 & 12
: 3rd Overall [[Tour de Wallonie]]
: 1st Stage 1 [[Tour of Austria]]
: 3rd Overall [[2008 Tour de Wallonie|Tour de Wallonie]]
::1st Stage 2
::1st Stage 2
: 4th [[2008 Clásica de San Sebastián|Clásica de San Sebastián]]
: 1st Stage 1 [[Tour of Austria]]
: 9th [[2008 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|Liège–Bastogne–Liège]]
: 1st [[Trofeo Matteotti]]
: 1st GP Formaggi Guffanti
{{div col end}}
{{div col end}}


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|—
|—
|- style="text-align:center;"
|- style="text-align:center;"
! scope="row" | [[File:Jersey red.svg|20px|link=|alt=A red jersey]] [[List of Vuelta a España general classification winners|Vuelta a España]]
! scope="row" | [[File:Jersey gold.svg|20px|link=|alt=A gold jersey]] [[List of Vuelta a España general classification winners|Vuelta a España]]
|—
|—
|—
|—
Line 266: Line 363:
|}
|}


===Classics results timeline===
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ Legend
! Monument
! scope="col" | 1997
! scope="col" | 1998
! scope="col" | 1999
! scope="col" | 2000
! scope="col" | 2001
! scope="col" | 2002
! scope="col" | 2003
! scope="col" | 2004
! scope="col" | 2005
! scope="col" | 2006
! scope="col" | 2007
! scope="col" | 2008
|- style="text-align:center;"
! scope="row" | [[Milan–San Remo]]
| —
| [[1998 Milan–San Remo|70]]
| [[1999 Milan–San Remo|77]]
| [[2000 Milan–San Remo|40]]
| style="background:#ddf;" |[[2001 Milan–San Remo|5]]
| [[2002 Milan–San Remo|50]]
| style="background:gold;" |[[2003 Milan–San Remo|'''1''']]
| style="background:#ddf;" |[[2004 Milan–San Remo|8]]
| [[2005 Milan–San Remo|42]]
| [[2006 Milan–San Remo|75]]
| [[2007 Milan–San Remo|33]]
| [[2008 Milan–San Remo|102]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
! scope="row" | [[Tour of Flanders]]
| —
| —
| —
| —
| [[2001 Tour of Flanders|23]]
| [[2002 Tour of Flanders|16]]
| [[2003 Tour of Flanders|DNF]]
| style="background:#ddf;" |[[2004 Tour of Flanders|9]]
| —
| style="background:#ddf;" |[[2006 Tour of Flanders|7]]
| [[2007 Tour of Flanders|21]]
| —
|- style="text-align:center;"
! scope="row" | [[Paris–Roubaix]]
| style="color:#4d4d4d;" colspan=12|Did not contest during his career
|- style="text-align:center;"
! scope="row" | [[Liège–Bastogne–Liège]]
| —
| [[1998 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|92]]
| style="background:#ddf;" |[[1999 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|5]]
| style="background:gold;" |[[2000 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|'''1''']]
| [[2001 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|15]]
| style="background:gold;" |[[2002 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|'''1''']]
| —
| [[2004 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|22]]
| style="background:#ddf;" |[[2005 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|4]]
| style="background:silver;" |[[2006 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|'''2''']]
| style="background:#ddf;" |[[2007 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|4]]
| style="background:#ddf;" |[[2008 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|9]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
! scope="row" | [[Giro di Lombardia]]
| —
| [[1998 Giro di Lombardia|21]]
| style="background:#ddf;" |[[1999 Giro di Lombardia|9]]
| style="background:#ddf;" |[[2000 Giro di Lombardia|10]]
| [[2001 Giro di Lombardia|20]]
| [[2002 Giro di Lombardia|30]]
| [[2003 Giro di Lombardia|DNF]]
| [[2004 Giro di Lombardia|29]]
| style="background:gold;" |[[2005 Giro di Lombardia|'''1''']]
| style="background:gold;" |[[2006 Giro di Lombardia|'''1''']]
| [[2007 Giro di Lombardia|103]]
| —
|-
|-
! Classic
| style="text-align:center;"|DSQ || Disqualified
! scope="col" | 1997
! scope="col" | 1998
! scope="col" | 1999
! scope="col" | 2000
! scope="col" | 2001
! scope="col" | 2002
! scope="col" | 2003
! scope="col" | 2004
! scope="col" | 2005
! scope="col" | 2006
! scope="col" | 2007
! scope="col" | 2008
|- style="text-align:center;"
! scope="row" | [[Omloop Het Volk]]
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| style="background:#ddf;" |[[2002 Omloop Het Volk|5]]
| style="background:#C9AE5D;"|[[2003 Omloop Het Volk|'''3''']]
| —
| [[2005 Omloop Het Volk|DNF]]
| —
| —
| [[2008 Omloop Het Volk|90]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
! scope="row" | [[Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne]]
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| 11
| 25
| style="background:silver;" |'''2'''
| DNF
| —
| —
| DNF
|- style="text-align:center;"
! scope="row" | [[E3 Saxo Bank Classic|E3 Prijs Vlaanderen]]
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| style="background:#ddf;" |[[2002 E3 Prijs Vlaanderen|4]]
| [[2003 E3 Prijs Vlaanderen|DNF]]
| [[2004 E3 Prijs Vlaanderen|48]]
| —
| —
| [[2007 E3 Prijs Vlaanderen|24]]
| —
|- style="text-align:center;"
! scope="row" | [[Amstel Gold Race]]
| —
| [[1998 Amstel Gold Race|DNF]]
| [[1999 Amstel Gold Race|32]]
| [[2000 Amstel Gold Race|14]]
| [[2001 Amstel Gold Race|DNF]]
| style="background:#ddf;" |[[2002 Amstel Gold Race|8]]
| —
| style="background:#C9AE5D;"|[[2004 Amstel Gold Race|'''3''']]
| [[2005 Amstel Gold Race|37]]
| style="background:#ddf;" |[[2006 Amstel Gold Race|8]]
| style="background:#ddf;" |[[2007 Amstel Gold Race|7]]
| —
|- style="text-align:center;"
! scope="row" | [[La Flèche Wallonne]]
| —
| [[1998 La Flèche Wallonne|50]]
| —
| [[2000 La Flèche Wallonne|19]]
| [[2001 La Flèche Wallonne|20]]
| [[2002 La Flèche Wallonne|37]]
| —
| [[2004 La Flèche Wallonne|DNF]]
| [[2005 La Flèche Wallonne|41]]
| [[2006 La Flèche Wallonne|12]]
| [[2007 La Flèche Wallonne|DNF]]
| —
|- style="text-align:center;"
! scope="row" | [[Clásica de San Sebastián]]
| —
| [[1998 Clásica de San Sebastián|DNF]]
| [[1999 Clásica de San Sebastián|11]]
| style="background:#ddf;" |[[2000 Clásica de San Sebastián|4]]
| [[2001 Clásica de San Sebastián|13]]
| style="background:#ddf;" |[[2002 Clásica de San Sebastián|7]]
| style="background:gold;" |[[2003 Clásica de San Sebastián|'''1''']]
| style="background:silver;" |[[2004 Clásica de San Sebastián|'''2''']]
| [[2005 Clásica de San Sebastián|DNF]]
| [[2006 Clásica de San Sebastián|101]]
| —
| style="background:#ddf;" |[[2008 Clásica de San Sebastián|4]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
! scope="row" | [[Hamburg Cyclassics]]
| —
| [[1998 HEW Cyclassics|12]]
| [[1999 HEW Cyclassics|12]]
| [[2000 HEW Cyclassics|18]]
| style="background:#ddf;" |[[2001 HEW Cyclassics|6]]
| style="background:#ddf;" |[[2002 HEW Cyclassics|4]]
| style="background:gold;" |[[2003 HEW Cyclassics|'''1''']]
| style="background:silver;" |[[2004 HEW Cyclassics|'''2''']]
| [[2005 HEW Cyclassics|DNF]]
| [[2006 Vattenfall Cyclassics|48]]
| style="background:#ddf;" |[[2007 Vattenfall Cyclassics|7]]
| —
|- style="text-align:center;"
! scope="row" | [[Züri-Metzgete]]
| [[1997 Züri-Metzgete|41]]
| style="background:#ddf;" |[[1998 Züri-Metzgete|8]]
| style="background:#ddf;" |[[1999 Züri-Metzgete|4]]
| [[2000 Züri-Metzgete|25]]
| style="background:gold;" |[[2001 Züri-Metzgete|'''1''']]
| style="background:silver;" |[[2002 Züri-Metzgete|'''2''']]
| style="background:#C9AE5D;"|[[2003 Züri-Metzgete|'''3''']]
| style="background:silver;" |[[2004 Züri-Metzgete|'''2''']]
| style="background:gold;" |[[2005 Züri-Metzgete|'''1''']]
| [[2006 Züri-Metzgete|DNF]]
| style="color:#4d4d4d;" colspan=2 |Not held
|- style="text-align:center;"
! scope="row" | [[Bretagne Classic|GP Ouest-France]]
| —
| —
| style="background:#ddf;" |[[1999 GP Ouest-France|7]]
| —
| —
| [[2002 GP Ouest-France|28]]
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|- style="text-align:center;"
! scope="row" | [[Giro dell'Emilia]]
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| style="background:#ddf;" |8
| —
| DNF
| —
| DNF
| —
|- style="text-align:center;"
! scope="row" | [[Milano–Torino]]
| —
| 21
| style="background:silver;" |'''2'''
| style="color:#4d4d4d;" |NH
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| 88
| style="color:#4d4d4d;" |NH
|- style="text-align:center;"
! scope="row" | [[Paris–Tours]]
| —
| [[1998 Paris–Tours|47]]
| [[1999 Paris–Tours|14]]
| style="background:#ddf;" |[[2000 Paris–Tours|4]]
| —
| [[2002 Paris–Tours|19]]
| [[2003 Paris–Tours|11]]
| style="background:#ddf;" |[[2004 Paris–Tours|6]]
| —
| —
| —
| —
|}

===Major championships results timeline===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|-
|-
!
| style="text-align:center;"|DNF || Did not finish
! scope="col" | 1998
! scope="col" | 1999
! scope="col" | 2000
! scope="col" | 2001
! scope="col" | 2002
! scope="col" | 2003
! scope="col" | 2004
! scope="col" | 2005
! scope="col" | 2006
! scope="col" | 2007
! scope="col" | 2008
|- style="text-align:center;"
! scope="row" | [[File:Gold medal olympic.svg|15px|link=Classification in the Olympic Games Road Race|alt=Gold medal]] [[Cycling at the Summer Olympics#Road cycling.2C men|Olympic Games]]
| style="color:#4d4d4d;" colspan=2|Not held
| style="background:#ddf;" |[[Cycling at the 2000 Summer Olympics – Men's individual road race|9]]
| style="color:#4d4d4d;" colspan=3|Not held
| style="background:gold;" |[[Cycling at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Men's individual road race|'''1''']]
| style="color:#4d4d4d;" colspan=3|Not held
| [[Cycling at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Men's individual road race|17]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
! scope="row" | [[File:Jersey rainbow.svg|20px|link=Classification in the World Championships|alt=Rainbow jersey]] [[UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race|World Championships]]
| [[1998 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race|63]]
| —
| style="background:#ddf;" |[[2000 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race|9]]
| style="background:silver;" |[[2001 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race|'''2''']]
| [[2002 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race|26]]
| style="background:#ddf;" |[[2003 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race|4]]
| [[2004 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race|DNF]]
| [[2005 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race|13]]
| style="background:gold;" |[[2006 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race|'''1''']]
| style="background:gold;" |[[2007 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race|'''1''']]
| [[2008 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race|28]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
! scope="row" | [[File:MaillotItalia.svg|20px|link=Classification in the National Championships|alt=National jersey]] [[Italian National Road Race Championships|National Championships]]
| —
| —
| style="background:#ddf;" |7
| 15
| —
| style="background:gold;" |'''1'''
| 11
| —
| style="background:gold;" |'''1'''
| DNF
| 27
|}
|}


{| class="wikitable"
===Monuments results===
|+ Legend
This table shows Bettini's results in the five [[cycling monument]]s.

{| class="wikitable centre" style="background-color:#f7f8ff; border:#999; background-color:#fff; text-align:center;"
|-
|-
! style="width:60px;"|Year
! scope="row" | —
| Did not compete
! style="width:125px;"|{{small|[[Milan–San Remo]]}}
! style="width:125px;"|{{small|[[Tour of Flanders]]}}
! style="width:125px;"|{{small|[[Paris–Roubaix]]}}
! style="width:125px;"|{{small|[[Liège–Bastogne–Liège]]}}
! style="width:125px;"|{{small|[[Giro di Lombardia]]}}
|-
| 1998
| [[1998 Milan–San Remo|70th]]
|—
|—
| [[1998 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|92nd]]
| [[1998 Giro di Lombardia|21st]]
|-
| 1999
| [[1999 Milan–San Remo|77th]]
|—
|—
| style="text-align:center; background:#efefef;"|[[1999 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|5th]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#efefef;"|[[1999 Giro di Lombardia|9th]]
|-
| 2000
| [[2000 Milan–San Remo|40th]]
|—
|—
| style="text-align:center; background:gold;"|[[2000 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1st]]
| [[2000 Giro di Lombardia|10th]]
|-
| 2001
| style="text-align:center; background:#efefef;"|[[2001 Milan–San Remo|5th]]
| [[2001 Tour of Flanders|23rd]]
|—
| [[2001 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|15th]]
| [[2001 Giro di Lombardia|20th]]
|-
| 2002
| [[2002 Milan–San Remo|50th]]
| [[2002 Tour of Flanders|16th]]
|—
| style="text-align:center; background:gold;"|[[2002 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1st]]
| [[2002 Giro di Lombardia|30th]]
|-
| 2003
| style="text-align:center; background:gold;"|[[2003 Milan–San Remo|1st]]
| [[2003 Tour of Flanders|DNF]]
|—
|—
| [[2003 Giro di Lombardia|DNF]]
|-
| 2004
| style="text-align:center; background:#efefef;"|[[2004 Milan–San Remo|8th]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#efefef;"|[[2004 Tour of Flanders|9th]]
|—
| [[2004 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|22nd]]
| [[2004 Giro di Lombardia|29th]]
|-
|-
! scope="row" | [[Did not finish|DNF]]
| 2005
| Did not finish
| [[2005 Milan–San Remo|42nd]]
|—
|—
| style="text-align:center; background:#efefef;"|[[2005 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|4th]]
| style="text-align:center; background:gold;"|[[2005 Giro di Lombardia|1st]]
|-
| 2006
| [[2006 Milan–San Remo|75th]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#efefef;"|[[2006 Tour of Flanders|7th]]
|—
| style="text-align:center; background:silver;"|[[2006 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|2nd]]
| style="text-align:center; background:gold;"|[[2006 Giro di Lombardia|1st]]
|-
| 2007
| [[2007 Milan–San Remo|33rd]]
| [[2007 Tour of Flanders|21st]]
|—
| style="text-align:center; background:#efefef;"|[[2007 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|4th]]
| [[2007 Giro di Lombardia|103rd]]
|-
| 2008
| [[2008 Milan–San Remo|102nd]]
|—
|—
| style="text-align:center; background:#efefef;"|[[2008 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|9th]]
|—
|}
|}


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==External links==
==External links==
{{Commons category|Paolo Bettini}}
{{commons category}}
* {{Cycling Archives}}
* {{sports links}}
* {{CQ ranking}}
* {{ProCyclingStats}}
* {{SR/Olympics profile|be/paolo-bettini-1}}
* {{IOC profile|paolo-bettini}}


{{Navboxes
|title=Related
|list1=
{{UCI World Tour Winners}}
{{UCI World Tour Winners}}
{{Footer Olympic Champions Road Cycling Men}}
{{Footer Olympic Champions Road Cycling Men}}
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{{Liège–Bastogne–Liège winners}}
{{Liège–Bastogne–Liège winners}}
{{Italian National Road Race Championships (men)}}
{{Italian National Road Race Championships (men)}}
{{Walk of Fame of Italian sport}}
{{authority control}}
}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Bettini, Paolo}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bettini, Paolo}}
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[[Category:Italian Giro d'Italia stage winners]]
[[Category:Italian Giro d'Italia stage winners]]
[[Category:UCI Road World Champions (elite men)]]
[[Category:UCI Road World Champions (elite men)]]
[[Category:Olympic cyclists of Italy]]
[[Category:Olympic cyclists for Italy]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for Italy]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for Italy]]
[[Category:People from the Province of Livorno]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from the Province of Livorno]]
[[Category:Cyclists at the 2000 Summer Olympics]]
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[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Tour de Suisse stage winners]]
[[Category:Tour de Suisse stage winners]]
[[Category:Olympic medalists in cycling]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists in cycling]]
[[Category:Vuelta a España cyclists]]
[[Category:Tour de France cyclists]]
[[Category:Giro d'Italia cyclists]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Tuscany]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2004 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2004 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:UCI Road World Cup winners]]
[[Category:UCI Road World Rankings winners]]
[[Category:People from Cecina, Tuscany]]
[[Category:Cyclists from Tuscany]]

Latest revision as of 21:12, 12 August 2024

Paolo Bettini
Bettini in 2013
Personal information
Full namePaolo Bettini
NicknameGrillo
Born (1974-04-01) 1 April 1974 (age 50)
Cecina, Italy
Height1.69 m (5 ft 7 in)
Weight58 kg (128 lb; 9.1 st)
Team information
DisciplineRoad
RoleRider
Rider typeClassics specialist
Puncheur
Professional teams
1997MG Maglificio–Technogym
1998Asics–CGA
1999–2002Mapei–Quick-Step
2003–2008Quick-Step–Davitamon
Major wins
Grand Tours
Tour de France
1 individual stage (2000)
Giro d'Italia
Points classification (2005, 2006)
2 individual stages (2005, 2006)
Vuelta a España
5 individual stages (2005–2008)

Stage races

Tirreno–Adriatico (2004)

One-day races and Classics

Olympic Road Race (2004)
World Road Race Championships (2006, 2007)
National Road Race Championships (2003, 2006)
Liège–Bastogne–Liège (2000, 2002)
Milan–San Remo (2003)
Giro di Lombardia (2005, 2006)
Clásica de San Sebastián (2003)
HEW Cyclassics (2003)
Züri-Metzgete (2001, 2005)

Other

UCI Road World Cup (2002, 2003, 2004)
Vélo d'Or (2006)
Medal record
Men's road bicycle racing
Representing  Italy
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2004 Athens Road race
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2007 Stuttgart Road race
Gold medal – first place 2006 Salzburg Road race
Silver medal – second place 2001 Lisbon Road race

Paolo Bettini (born 1 April 1974 in Cecina, Livorno, Tuscany) is an Italian former champion road racing cyclist, and the former coach of the Italian national cycling team. Considered the best classics specialist of his generation, and probably one of the strongest of all times, he won gold medals in the 2004 Athens Olympics road race and in the 2006 and 2007 World Road Race Championships. He is nicknamed Il Grillo ("the cricket") for his repeated sudden attacks and his sprinting style.

He gained prominence by winning Liège–Bastogne–Liège in 2000 and 2002. He set the record for World Cup wins in a season in 2003, winning the Milan–San Remo, HEW Cyclassics and Clásica de San Sebastián. He won the Giro di Lombardia in 2005 and 2006, the Züri-Metzgete in 2001 and 2005 and Tirreno–Adriatico in 2004.

Career

[edit]

Early career

[edit]

Paolo Bettini lived with his family on the Tuscany coast. He began racing when he was seven and won 23 of his first 24 races.[1] His first bike had a secondhand frame which his father, Giuliano, had painted orange. The components were cannibalised from other bikes.[1] He started racing after the encouragement of his brother.[2]

He came fourth in the world under-23 road championship in 1996, behind three other Italians, Giuliano Fugeras, Roberti Sgambelluri and Luca Sironi.[3] He turned professional the following year for the MG-Technogym team. There he rode as domestique to Michele Bartoli, "a working class cyclist", wrote Stephen Farrand, "destined to work for others to earn his crust."[1] He worked for Bartoli, who in return helped with advice.[3] Bartoli won the World Cup in 1997 and 1998 with Bettini's help.

Bettini winning the 2001 Coppa Placci

Bartoli fell heavily on a knee in 1999 and Bettini was freed to race for himself.[4] He won Liège–Bastogne–Liège in 2000 – treating himself to a €100,000 Porsche[1] – and a flat stage of that year's Tour de France, from Agen to Dax. He won the 2001 Züri-Metzgete after a few months without wins, beating Jan Ullrich in the sprint to the finish. His success led to a feud with Bartoli. It culminated in the 2001 world championship in Lisbon, Portugal, where Bartoli refused to lead Bettini to a flying start in the sprint finish and the Spaniard, Óscar Freire, won instead.

2002 World Cup and race season

[edit]

The 2002 season was a breakthrough. In the World Cup, Bettini was caught in the final kilometers of Milan–San Remo. After his 1–2 win with Stefano Garzelli in Liège–Bastogne–Liège, Bettini ran neck-to-neck against Museeuw, who won Paris–Roubaix in a 50 km solo breakaway, and the HEW Cyclassics. A tactical ride in Giro di Lombardia earned Bettini the World Cup.

Bettini played strong support in Mario Cipollini's victory in the UCI Road Cycling World Championship in Zolder, Belgium.

2003 World Cup and race season

[edit]

The 2003 World Cup series started with Milan–San Remo. Attacking twice in the last hills leading down to the Primavera, Bettini had the help of Luca Paolini, who attacked down the tricky descent towards the finish.

However, injury in the Gent–Wevelgem forced Bettini to miss several races until the Tour de France in July.[5] He then followed with a win in the HEW Cyclassics in front of Tour runner-up Jan Ullrich, and a win in the Clásica de San Sebastián.

Bettini failed to win the UCI Road Cycling World Championship despite being favorite due to a mistake at the end of the race. Having established himself in the winning breakaway, hesitation allowed the Spaniard Igor Astarloa to break away to win. Astarloa claimed that Bettini had offered him money to relinquish the win, which Astarloa said he refused. A feud ensued, and Astarloa attributed his comment to a misunderstanding of Bettini's Italian.[6]

2004 World Cup and race season

[edit]
Paolo Bettini wearing the National Champion's jersey in 2004.

The 2004 season started well with Milan–San Remo, but Davide Rebellin won the La Flèche Wallonne (not in the World Cup), Liège–Bastogne–Liège and Amstel Gold Race. Bettini's disappointments continued with second places in the HEW Cyclassics, which he had won previously, and in the Clásica de San Sebastián, which he had won the previous year. The points gained in Paris–Tours put him in the leader's jersey, but with the last race the Giro di Lombardia better suited to Rebellin, the World Cup was not yet safe. Bettini followed Rebellin throughout the race, resulting in Rebellin's quitting in frustration.

Bettini's most important victory was the 2004 Summer Olympics, where he broke away with Portuguese Sérgio Paulinho for a comfortable victory decided on a last moment sprint with both. He again failed to win the world championship due to an injury when he banged his knee against the team car at the beginning of the race.

2005 UCI ProTour and race season

[edit]

After Milan–San Remo, Bettini had an injury-marked start which prevented significant participation in the spring classics, and he had no victories until he got two stage wins at the 2005 Giro d'Italia, where he wore the pink jersey as leader of the general classification for several days. After that, no more good results until the 2005 Vuelta a España, where he beat Alessandro Petacchi in an uphill sprint in Valladolid. After that, he took part in the world championship in Madrid, where he got into the decisive break but did not get a medal. A week later, he won Züri-Metzgete for a second time. Two weeks later he won the Giro di Lombardia as well.

2006 UCI ProTour and race season

[edit]

Bettini won the first race of the season, the Trofeo Soller, which is part of the Challenge Mallorca. He also won the Gran Premio di Lugano, two stages in the Tirreno–Adriatico and the 15th stage in the Giro d'Italia, where he won the points classification. Following the Giro he became the Italian road champion and won a stage at the Vuelta a España before winning the world championship.

His brother Sauro died in a car accident a few days after that victory and Bettini was close to abandoning cycling. He changed his mind and won the Giro di Lombardia in tears.

On 2 March 2007, the French magazine Velo awarded Bettini its Vélo d'Or as best rider of 2006.[7]

2007 UCI ProTour and race season

[edit]
Bettini at the 2007 E3 Harelbeke wearing the rainbow jersey

Bettini raced in the second annual 2.HC-rated 2007 Tour of California and made it worth his while by capturing Stage 4 in a sprint finish. He later won the third stage of the Vuelta a España and finished second in three more stages. Then he won once again the rainbow jersey of the Elite Men's Road at Stuttgart.

2008 season

[edit]
Paolo Bettini at the 2008 Tour of California.

Bettini's start was plagued by injuries, including a fall at the Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne and a rib broken when he fell on a wet descent in the Tour of the Basque Country.[8] He won the Trofeo Matteotti and stages at the Tour of Austria and Tour de Wallonie. He also won two stages at the Vuelta a España, where he said he was leaving Quick Step after 10 years due to a financial dispute.[9] On September 27 he announced his retirement.[10] On 4 November, he fell during the Milan six-day and was taken to hospital unconscious.[11]

Coaching career

[edit]

On 17 June 2010, Bettini was named as the new Italian national coach, following the death of Franco Ballerini in a car accident earlier that year.[12] He left this role in 2014 to work with Fernando Alonso on his new cycling team in preparation for its launch in 2015.[13]

Track racing

[edit]

Bettini followed the path of riders before the 1970s and took up six-day racing in the winter. He rode at Munich and Grenoble in 2006. "I didn't do it for the money", he said. "I had that already. I did it through my love of racing, to see what it's like to race on a track."[4] The bankings proved trickier than the road, however, and his debut was described as "catastrophic" as he failed to get alongside his partner in the two-man relay race, the madison, and finished the first night "with fear in his face."[4] Charly Mottet said:

I saw him at the start of the evening and he worried me. Two hours later, I can tell you, he had won the respect of the others. He was making proper changes,[14] he was taking part in the race and he was going better and better. The others couldn't believe their eyes [commencaient à ne plus voir le jour].[4]

Personal life

[edit]

Bettini married Monica Orlandini, a literature teacher, in 2000. They moved into a farmhouse belonging to his wife's family, who have been olive farmers for four generations.[2] They live in Riparbella, 10 km from Cecina, where Bettini was born.

Career achievements

[edit]

Major results

[edit]
1996
1st Stage 8 Giro Ciclistico d'Italia
3rd Road race, National Under-23 Road Championships
4th Road race, UCI Road World Under-23 Championships
9th Overall Grand Prix Guillaume Tell
1997 (1 pro win)
1st Stage 2 (TTT) Hofbrau Cup
8th Overall Tour de Langkawi
1998 (1)
1st Stage 4a Tour de Romandie
3rd Trofeo Laigueglia
3rd Gran Premio Bruno Beghelli
7th Overall Giro d'Italia
7th Overall Danmark Rundt
1st Mountains classification
7th Giro della Provincia di Reggio Calabria
8th Overall Tour Méditerranéen
8th Züri-Metzgete
8th Coppa Sabatini
1999 (5)
1st Overall Giro della Provincia di Lucca
1st Stage 1
1st Stage 4 Tirreno–Adriatico
2nd Milano–Torino
3rd Overall Settimana Internazionale di Coppi e Bartali
1st Stage 2
4th Züri-Metzgete
5th Liège–Bastogne–Liège
6th Overall Tour of Galicia
1st Stage 1
7th GP Ouest–France
7th Giro dell'Appennino
9th Giro di Lombardia
9th Grand Prix of Aargau Canton
2000 (6)
1st Overall Memorial Cecchi Gori
1st Stages 2 & 4
1st Liège–Bastogne–Liège
1st Trofeo Manacor
1st Stage 9 Tour de France
2nd Giro della Romagna
4th Clásica de San Sebastián
4th Paris–Tours
5th Coppa Placci
7th Grand Prix de Fourmies
7th Giro della Provincia di Siracusa
9th Road race, Olympic Games
9th Road race, UCI Road World Championships
10th Giro di Lombardia
10th Trofeo Pantalica
10th GP Industria & Artigianato di Larciano
2001 (5)
1st Züri-Metzgete
1st Coppa Placci
2nd Overall Tour de Langkawi
1st Points classification
1st Stages 3 & 11
2nd Road race, UCI Road World Championships
3rd Coppa Sabatini
4th Overall Giro della Provincia di Lucca
1st Stage 4
5th Milan–San Remo
5th Tre Valli Varesine
5th Giro del Lazio
6th HEW Cyclassics
9th Firenze–Pistoia
2002 (10)
1st Overall UCI Road World Cup
1st Overall Tour de Wallonie
1st Stage 1
1st Overall Giro Riviera Ligure Pomente
1st Stage 3 & 4
1st Liège–Bastogne–Liège
1st Coppa Sabatini
1st Giro del Lazio
1st Stage 1 Tour Méditerranéen
1st Stage 3 Giro della Provincia di Lucca
2nd Züri-Metzgete
2nd Giro di Toscana
4th Overall Tirreno–Adriatico
1st Stage 2
4th E3 Prijs Vlaanderen
4th HEW Cyclassics
5th Omloop Het Volk
6th Gran Premio Industria e Commercio di Prato
7th Clásica de San Sebastián
7th Firenze–Pistoia
8th Amstel Gold Race
8th Trofeo Laigueglia
10th Coppa Placci
2003 (5)
1st Overall UCI Road World Cup
1st Road race, National Road Championships
1st Overall Tour Méditerranéen
1st Points classification
1st Milan–San Remo
1st Clásica de San Sebastián
1st HEW Cyclassics
2nd Grand Prix of Aargau Canton
3rd Omloop Het Volk
3rd Züri-Metzgete
4th Road race, UCI Road World Championships
4th Trofeo Laigueglia
4th Gran Premio della Costa Etruschi
4th Trofeo Alcúdia
5th Overall Tirreno–Adriatico
1st Points classification
5th Tour du Haut Var
5th Gran Premio Città di Camaiore
5th Trofeo Manacor
8th Giro dell'Emilia
2004 (8)
1st Overall UCI Road World Cup
1st Road race, Olympic Games
1st Overall Tirreno–Adriatico
1st Stage 4 & 6
1st Gran Premio Città di Camaiore
1st Stage 8 Tour de Suisse
2nd Clásica de San Sebastián
2nd HEW Cyclassics
2nd Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne
2nd Züri-Metzgete
3rd Amstel Gold Race
5th Paris–Brussels
5th Trofeo Palma de Mallorca
6th Overall Tour Méditerranéen
1st Stage 2
6th Paris–Tours
8th Milan–San Remo
8th Ronde van Midden-Zeeland
9th Overall Circuit Franco-Belge
1st Stage 1
9th Tour of Flanders
2005 (4)
1st Giro di Lombardia
1st Züri–Metzgete
Giro d'Italia
1st Points classification
1st Stage 1
1st Stage 16 Vuelta a España
2nd Gran Premio Bruno Beghelli
4th Liège–Bastogne–Liège
7th Trofeo Palma de Mallorca
2006 (9)
1st Road race, UCI Road World Championships
1st Road race, National Road Championships
1st Giro di Lombardia
1st Gran Premio di Lugano
1st Trofeo Sóller
Giro d'Italia
1st Points classification
1st Stage 15
1st Stage 2 Vuelta a España
Tirreno–Adriatico
1st Stage 1 & 2
2nd Liège–Bastogne–Liège
3rd Trofeo Pollença
3rd Trofeo Cala Millor
7th Tour of Flanders
8th Amstel Gold Race
9th Trofeo Laigueglia
9th Trofeo Palma de Mallorca
2007 (3)
1st Road race, UCI Road World Championships
1st Stage 3 Vuelta a España
1st Stage 4 Tour of California
4th Liège–Bastogne–Liège
6th Amstel Gold Race
7th Vattenfall Cyclassics
7th Firenze–Pistoia
2008 (5)
1st Trofeo Matteotti
Vuelta a España
1st Stage 6 & 12
1st Stage 1 Tour of Austria
3rd Overall Tour de Wallonie
1st Stage 2
4th Clásica de San Sebastián
9th Liège–Bastogne–Liège

Grand Tour general classification results timeline

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Grand Tour 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
A pink jersey Giro d'Italia 25 7 44 — — DNF — — 38 56 41 19
A yellow jersey Tour de France — — — 122 74 — 114 114 — — — —
A gold jersey Vuelta a España — — 32 — — — — — DNF DNF DNF DNF

Classics results timeline

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Monument 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Milan–San Remo — 70 77 40 5 50 1 8 42 75 33 102
Tour of Flanders — — — — 23 16 DNF 9 — 7 21 —
Paris–Roubaix Did not contest during his career
Liège–Bastogne–Liège — 92 5 1 15 1 — 22 4 2 4 9
Giro di Lombardia — 21 9 10 20 30 DNF 29 1 1 103 —
Classic 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Omloop Het Volk — — — — — 5 3 — DNF — — 90
Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne — — — — — 11 25 2 DNF — — DNF
E3 Prijs Vlaanderen — — — — — 4 DNF 48 — — 24 —
Amstel Gold Race — DNF 32 14 DNF 8 — 3 37 8 7 —
La Flèche Wallonne — 50 — 19 20 37 — DNF 41 12 DNF —
Clásica de San Sebastián — DNF 11 4 13 7 1 2 DNF 101 — 4
Hamburg Cyclassics — 12 12 18 6 4 1 2 DNF 48 7 —
Züri-Metzgete 41 8 4 25 1 2 3 2 1 DNF Not held
GP Ouest-France — — 7 — — 28 — — — — — —
Giro dell'Emilia — — — — — — 8 — DNF — DNF —
Milano–Torino — 21 2 NH — — — — — — 88 NH
Paris–Tours — 47 14 4 — 19 11 6 — — — —

Major championships results timeline

[edit]
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Gold medal Olympic Games Not held 9 Not held 1 Not held 17
Rainbow jersey World Championships 63 — 9 2 26 4 DNF 13 1 1 28
National jersey National Championships — — 7 15 — 1 11 — 1 DNF 27
Legend
— Did not compete
DNF Did not finish

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Cycling Weekly, UK, May 2002
  2. ^ a b Procycling, UK, November 2001
  3. ^ a b L'Équipe, France, 10 July 2000
  4. ^ a b c d Vélo, France, December 2006
  5. ^ "www.cyclingnews.com – the world centre of cycling". Bike-zone.com. Retrieved 2012-10-23.
  6. ^ "Pro Cycling News". Daily Peloton. 2003-10-13. Retrieved 2012-10-23.
  7. ^ [1] Archived March 2, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ "Paulo Bettini breaks a rib in Pais Vasco crash". Velonews.com. 2008-04-12. Retrieved 2012-10-23.
  9. ^ "www.cyclingnews.com presents the 63rd Vuelta a España". Autobus.cyclingnews.com. 2008-09-21. Retrieved 2012-10-23.
  10. ^ "Italian Cycling Legend Paolo Bettini Announces His Retirement After Title Defence". Bicycle.net. 2008-09-27. Retrieved 2012-10-23.
  11. ^ Door: redactie 4/11/08 – 16u34 (2009-11-08). "Geen breuken voor Bettini na zware val in Zesdaagse Milaan" (in Dutch). HLN.be. Archived from the original on 2012-07-17. Retrieved 2012-10-23.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  12. ^ Stephen Farrand. "Bettini Confirmed As Italian National Coach". Cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 2012-10-23.
  13. ^ Farrand, Stephen (29 May 2014). "Bettini ready for role with Fernando Alonso's team". cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  14. ^ In a madison race, one rider races as the other circles the track slowly, to rest. The faster rider grabs the slower by the hand and hurls him into the race. It demands not only acrobatic skill and strength but the talent to get near the other rider in the first place, riding at 50kmh on a 250m track with up to 30 riders moving at different speeds.
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