BETTINI BACK ON TOP

Click here to see a gallery of photos from the Elite Men's Road Race

Italy?s Paolo Bettini has overcome numerous difficulties both on and off the bike to win the World Championships for the second year running.

In a dramatic finale at the end of a gruelling 267.4km event, the Italian proved the fastest in a five-man sprint against Alexandr Kolobnev of Russia and Germany?s Stefan Schumacher. Fourth was Luxemberger Frank Schleck and fifth, Cadel Evans of Australia.

With the bunch down to some 50 riders - including Britain's David Millar - Bettini?s Italian squad forced the pace in the tougher first climb of the final lap, with a group of 15 riders finally going clear. Then, on the second climb, Bettini forged ahead with Schleck and Schumacher on his wheel.

Kolobnev and Evans bridged across in the closing kilometres, with the Australian attempting - and failing - to surprise the group before the final sprint.

Kolobnev led out the last dash for the line, but Bettini proved the stronger to become the first Italian since Gianni Bugno in 1992 to win the World?s two years in a row.

That Bettini could take part in the World?s remained uncertain until 48 hours before the race. An attempt by the city of Stuttgart to bar Bettini from racing in the lawcourts because he had not signed the UCI?s anti-doping pledge in its full form this summer only failed on Friday. Bettini?s gesture of firing off a gun as he crossed the line was, he said later, a very direct comment on the immense pressure he has been under.

Flanked by Pat McQuaid in the winner?s press conference, the UCI president said Bettini?s victory was ?magnificent. We can only give him praise and support? - something not so obvious earlier in the week, when McQuaid had attacked Bettini for failing to sign the pledge without any conditions.

Big losers on the day were the Spaniards, the main pre-race favourites together with the Italians.

Three-times World Champion Oscar Freire was waiting for a bunch sprint which never happened, and Tour of Spain star Samuel Sanchez tried one of his characteristic attacks on a descent - but could not get away. As for Alejandro Valverde, subject of so much controversy prior to the event, he played the role of domestique and finished 57th.

David Millar was Great Britain?s only finisher after remaining with the lead group of 50 that started the last lap together. Neither Roger Hammond or Mark Cavendish finished.

Paolo Bettini wins the World Championships for the second year in succession. Photo: Luc Claessen

World Championships Road Race Elite Men Stuttgart 267.4km

1 Paolo Bettini (Italy) 6-44-43

2 Alexandr Kolobnev (Russia)

3 Stefan Schumacher (Germany)

4 Frank Schleck (Luxemberg)

5 Cadel Evans (Australia) all st

6 Davide Rebellin (Italy) at 6sec

7 Samuel Sanchez (Spain) at 8sec

8 Philippe Gilbert (Belgium)

9 Fabian Wegmann (Germany)

10 Martin Elmiger (Switzerland) all st

British

54 David Millar at 1-05

dnf: Roger Hammond, Mark Cavendish

Britain's Mark Cavendish lost contact with the lead group. There's always next year, Cav! Photo: Luc Claessen

2007 ROAD WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS NEWS

Bettini fires back

Comment: Stuttgart embarrassed by Worlds

Bellis: "Biggest success of my career"

Pooley: "My tenth place was earned by the team"

Bettini cleared to race by Stuttgart courts

McQuaid gives Bettini green light to race

Bettini in Worlds but Di Luca is out

Wiggins and Millar disappointed with TT ride

Bettini denies supplying drugs to Sinkewitz

Valverde can race at World Championships

Eddy Merckx not welcome at Worlds

Cooke out of Worlds, Brailsford names GB squad

British team get extra places for U23 Worlds

Boonen out of Worlds

Should Valverde ride the Worlds?

2007 ROAD WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS COVERAGE

Bettini back on top

Bellis takes Under-23 bronze

Gold and bronze for Italy in women's road race

Cancellara retains World TT title

2007 Road World Championships preview

Elite Men Time Trial: full start list

Elite Women's Time Trial: Pooley takes eighth,

Under-23 Time Trial: Boom takes second world title in 2007

TV guide: World Champs on British Eurosport

TV guide: World Champs on BBC

2007 ROAD WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS PHOTO GALLERIES

Elite Men's Road Race

Elite Women's Road Race

Under-23 Men Road Race

Elite Men's Time Trial

Elite Women's Time Trial World Championships

Men's Under-23 Time Trial World Championships

2006 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

World Champs 2006: Cancellara nets gold in TT

World Champs 2006: Cooke blasts to bronze in Salzburg

EXTERNAL LINKS

Official 2007 Road World Championships website: www.radwm2007.com.

Union Cycliste Internationale: www.uci.ch.