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World Champions: VARESE 2008
It’s a historic achievement: three consecutive world championship victories by the Italian national team under the direction of Franco Ballerini, and the first time that two Italians have stood on the top two steps of the podium.
Everyone expected Italy and Spain to be the main protagonists, everyone was watching Bettini, and everyone predicted a confrontation between the major players Valverde, Contador, Freire, Cunego, and Rebellin. Instead, it was Ballan who jumped clear, and Ballerini’s alternative plan-designed for a situation in which Bettini was forced out of the race early-prevailed.
As soon as the break of the day (featuring a Ukrainian, a Luxembourger, and a Venezuelan) was reeled in, the attacks began.
The Azzurri were always at the front of the group, waiting for the right moment, which arrived when Ballan attacked 3 kilometers from the finish. He was unstoppable, giving us our third world championship victory.
It was an Italian triumph all around, with the new world champion Alessandro Ballan, silver for Damiano Cunego, and fourth place for Davide Rebellin.
...and we’re still world champions! |
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