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Giro finale Photo ©: Bettini
World Championships - CM
Stuttgart, Germany, September 26-30, 2007
Photography
Race 6 - September 30: Elite men's road race - 14 laps, 267.4km For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by
Shane Stokes / Cyclingnews.com
Images by
Roberto Bettini/www.bettiniphoto.net
Images by
Cyclingnews.com
Images by
Fotoreporter
Sirotti
Erik Zabel (Germany)
finished down in 18th spot.
Stefan Schumacher (Germany) was
feeling calm before the race.
Gerald Ciolek (Germany) didn't make it
to the finish line in Stuttgart.
Paolo Bettini (Italy) is ready
to defend his world title...
...and put a week of controversy
behind him.
Frank Schleck (Luxembourg)
gets ready to race.
Wait a minute, you look like the last guy!
Frank Schleck's brother Andy is also ready to roll.
Oscar Freire Gomez (Spain)
awaits the start.
Oscar Freire Gomez (Spain) shares a chat with
defending champion Paolo Bettini (Italy).
Michael Boogerd (Netherlands) was hoping
to pull off victory.
Carlos Sastre (Spain)
wanted a strong showing, but didn't finish the race.
Thomas Dekker (Netherlands) was focused
before the race.
Alejandro Valverde (Spain) had to fight
for months just to start the World Championship race.
Thank god I'm here: The road to Stuttgart has been a long
one for Alejandro Valverde (Spain).
The peloton gets ready
to depart.
Hmmm, I wonder where these guys
hail from?
The Italian's sure know how to win,
by forming a wall at the start!
The nerves are high as the
start nears.
The Italians were determined to dominate
from the start, literally!
And they're off and racing.
The peloton sets out cleanly,
just a few hundred more kilometres to go.
Andrea Tonti (Italy)
rides in the bunch, but didn't make the finish line.
Alessandro Bertolini (Italy)
finished six minutes down in 62nd spot.
Davide Rebellin (Italy) rides in the bunch
before going on to finish sixth, six seconds behind countryman Paolo Bettini.
Damiano Cunego (Italy) finished down
in 50th spot, some 57 seconds behind.
Paolo Bettini (Italy) rolls around the course
early on.
Riders travel across a flat section
of the course during the 267.4 kilometre race.
There were as many nationalities represented
in the crowd as were in the race.
Alessandro Bertolini (Italy) and Matteo Tosatto (Italy)
in the peloton during the race.
Gruppo compacto in the early
phase of the road race.
The peloton together early
on in the lengthy race.
Stéphane Augé (France) and Colombian Marlon Alirio Perez Arango
lead a small escape early in the race.
The main bunch passes by a heap of flags
while a small break has gone up the road.
Riders swap turns driving
a reasonably large group of riders.
Alessandro Bertolini (Italy) leads a small group
up the incline.
The main bunch approaches the foot
of a climb...
...and starts to make its way up
as the cars trail close behind.
The Netherlands squad gather at the front
of a group.
Jens Voigt (Germany)
powers across his home course.
Damiano Cunego (Italy) was a part of
a large break...
...as were Italian team-mates Alessandro Ballan
and eventual winner Paolo Bettini.
Filippo Pozzato (Italy)
rides in the bunch.
Michael Boogerd (Netherlands), shown early in the race,
launched on the steep Hedwig with 15 kilometres remaining.
Sylvain Chavanel (France) and Pierrick Fedrigo (France)
in the bunch.
Paolo Bettini (Italy) charges
up a climb at the head of his bunch.
Michael Rogers leads his Australian team-mates
in a group, but didn't make it to the event's finish line.
Michael Boogerd (Netherlands) and Paolo Bettini
keep close watch on one another.
Thomas Voeckler (France) and Filippo Pozzato (Italy)
ride in the bunch.
He was active early on but Filippo Pozzato (Italy)
could only manage 51st by day's end.
Italians Matteo Tosatto, Alessandro Bertolini and Damiano Cunego
stick close together.
A large group crosses the start/finish
line for another lap.
Alejandro Valverde (Spain)
finished the race in 57th.
Jens Voigt may not have finished the race
but German team-mate Fabian Wegmann finished in the top 10, taking ninth spot.
Alejandro Valverde (Spain) moves
to the front of his group...
...and continues to pull it
up a climb.
The riders sprint towards home
after 267.4 kilometres on the bike.
Defending world champ Paolo Bettini (Italy)
gestures as if he's holding a shotgun…
...then takes aim, but at who?
...we'll leave that up to your imagination.
Russian Alexandr Kolobnev feels the pain
of being so close to victory as Italy's Paolo Bettini celebrates.
Italian Paolo Bettini is clearly pumped up with excitement
after defending his world championship.
Paolo Bettini shows his chest...
...before throwing his first in the air
as he celebrates his biggest, and only, major win of 2007.
World beater: Paolo Bettini (Italy) retains
his World Champion status in the Elite Men's road race.
Riders sprint for the minor places.
These guys started at the front and finished at the back,
so why are they so happy? Oh, that's right their man Bettini won!
Davide Rebellin (Italy) led the second bunch home
to take sixth place.
Paolo Bettini (Italy) is congratulated
after the finish by officials.
Paolo Bettini's wife Monica
was on hand for another of those congratulations kisses.
On top of the world: Paolo Bettini (Italy)
celebrates on the podium.
Paolo Bettini ensured that the Italian flag
returned to the top step of the World Championship podium.
Last year Paolo Bettini stuck his tongue out, but this year it was the gun gesture
that was a common sight.
Draped in the Italian flag, Paolo Bettini looks content
with his accomplishment.
I told you so: UCI President Pat McQuaid and Italian Paolo Bettini
have been at loggerheads for the past week, but Bettini is a man of his word and retained the World Championship to add salt to the UCI's wounds.
Paolo Bettini (Italy) is number one
for another year.
Italy's Paolo Bettini may have arrived in Germany
in an all black outfit, but he'll leave as a colourful man with the UCI's rainbow World Champion jersey.
Podium (L-R): Alexandr Kolobnev (Russian Federation), Paolo Bettini (Italy)
and Stefan Schumacher (Germany).
Italian Paolo Bettini put a tough week behind him
and enjoyed his moment on the podium.
Podium (L-R): Alexandr Kolobnev (Russian Federation), Paolo Bettini (Italy)
and Stefan Schumacher (Germany).
2007 World Championship medallists:
Alexandr Kolobnev (Russian Federation), Paolo Bettini (Italy)
Gold at the end of the rainbow:
A happy
Oh common Stefan, third's not so bad,
give us a smile!
Russian Alexandr Kolobnev was happy
with his efforts on the day.
Stefan Schumacher (Germany) celebrates
with a home crowd on the podium.
Alexandr Kolobnev (Russian Federation)
was happy with his second spot.
Stefan Schumacher (Germany)
kisses his bronze medal.
...and enters the post-race press conference.
UCI president Pat McQuaid was angry and annoyed at Paolo Bettini
earlier in the week, but the two seemed to have put that behind them by Sunday.
Images by
PhotoSport International
Race 5 - September 29: Under 23 men's road race - 9 laps, 171.9km For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by
Roberto Bettini/www.bettiniphoto.net
Images by
Cyclingnews.com
Images by
Fotoreporter
Sirotti
Images by
PhotoSport International
Race 4 - September 29: Women's road race - 7 laps, 133.7km For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by
Roberto Bettini/www.bettiniphoto.net
Images by
Cyclingnews.com
Images by
Fotoreporter
Sirotti
Images by
Fabrice Lambert
Images by
John Pierce/Photosport International
Race 3 - September 27: Elite men's time trial - 2 laps, 44.9km For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by
Roberto Bettini/www.bettiniphoto.net
Images by
Cyclingnews.com
Images by
AFP Photo
Images by
Fotoreporter
Sirotti
Images by
PhotoSport International
Race 2 - September 26: Women's time trial - 2 laps, 25.1km For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by
Roberto Bettini/www.bettiniphoto.net
Images by
Cyclingnews.com
Images by
Fotoreporter
Sirotti
Images by
AFP Photo
Images by
Monika Prell/Cyclingnews.com
Images by
Mike Mc Garry/PhotoSport International
Race 1 - September 26: Under 23 men's time trial - 2 laps, 38.1km For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by
Roberto Bettini/www.bettiniphoto.net
Images by
Cyclingnews.com
Images by
Fotoreporter
Sirotti
Images by
Cyclingnews.com
Images by
Mareike Engelbrecht/www.cycling-pics.com
Riders preview the course - September 29 For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by
AFP Photo
Squadra Azzurra gets ready - September 29 For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by
Fotoreporter
Sirotti
Images by
Roberto Bettini/www.bettiniphoto.net
TT preview - September 25: Men, women and U23 For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by
Rob Jones/www.canadiancyclist.com