Paolo Bettini 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 for his repeated sudden attacks and his sprinting style.
Bettini in 2013
Bettini winning the 2001 Coppa Placci
Paolo Bettini wearing the National Champion's jersey in 2004.
Bettini at the 2007 E3 Harelbeke wearing the rainbow jersey
2007 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race
The 2007 UCI Road World Championships - Men's Road Race took place on September 30, 2007. The Championship was won for a second year in succession by the Italian Paolo Bettini, who outsprinted the rest of a five-man group in the final 500 metres. The Russian Alexandr Kolobnev took the silver medal and Stefan Schumacher of Germany captured third place for the bronze medal.
Finish line in Stuttgart