Paolo Bettini: Difference between revisions

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 |accessdateaccess-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 |accessdateaccess-date=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 |accessdateaccess-date=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 |accessdateaccess-date=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 |accessdateaccess-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 |accessdateaccess-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>

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 |accessdateaccess-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]] |accessdateaccess-date=29 May 2014}}</ref>