What’s the story with Rebellin and the Italian federation ? After not being selected for the Olympics, he was not selected for the world champs in his own backyard (there will be 13 italian men cyclists at the world’s !!!).
Why the hell wouldn’t they want the no 1 ranked world cup series and UCI number 4 cyclist on their team ?
Francois in Montreal
I think they stopped considering him for the team when he made it clear he was going to apply for Argentinian citizenship to ensure his participation. Apparently he didn’t have faith that the selection committee would choose him as he has been left off the team in the past.
He’ll be competing for Argentina at Worlds though I’m not aware of what(if any) ties to that country he has.
the italians can be a little silly at times. even though davide is having the season of his life(the triple crown of the spring classics) they left him off the olympic team due to his “poor” performance in the tour de france. this is where they are a little silly…you leave arguably the best one day racer of the year off the olympic team(one day race remember) due to his performance in a three week long stage race. i fail to see the logic in this, and so did davide, so rather than risk missing another major event(imagine the world cup overall winner not contesting the world championships) he took matters into his own hands. good for him. i hope he beats bettini and the rest on home soil. it would serve them right.
he applied to race for Argentina only after Ballerini did not select him.
and it’s not as if Bettini had anything (that we know) to do with this. It is a lot more likely that Bettini will win than Rebellin, though.
don’t you think it’s pretty basic. The italians want to race as one unified team and to have two team leaders who are equally strong (Bettini & Rebellin) puts that into jeopardy. Bettini just SMOKED the field in Athens on a very tough course - so why would anyone think he won’t do the same thing in Verona. Now not taking Bartolli seems like it’s a long held grudge and not taking Gibo seems like a mistake - but look at the team Ballerini picked:
Damiano Cunego, Leonardo Bertagnolli (Saeco), Stefano Garzelli (Vini Caldirola), Ivan Basso (CSC), Dario Cioni, Dario Frigo and Roberto Petito (Fassa Bortolo), Luca Mazzanti and Emanuele Sella (Panaria), Cristian Moreni and Franco Pellizotti (Alessio), Daniele Nardello (T-Mobile), Luca Paolini (Quick.Step-Davitamon), and Filippo Simeoni (Domina Vacanze),
Not that these guys are slouches - they are all there to work for Bettini - chase down the Spaniards who’s only chance to win is to send attack after attack after attack and then withstand whatever Germans happen to be left (shouldn’t be much of problem).
I don’t think so. He believed he would not be selected after being left off of last years’ team and also off of the Olympic team this year. The Italian team was only finalized yesterday but Rebellin began his course of action a few weeks ago.
Cyclingnews.com Aug 29:
Davide Rebellin is considering requesting Argentinean nationality in order to participate in the upcoming World Championships in Verona, Italy. Disenchanted over his non-selection to the Italian Olympic team, World Cup leader Rebellin has decided to look elsewhere for a ride in the World’s. National team selector Franco Ballerini commented in La Gazzetta dello Sport that Rebellin is back on the list of possible members of the 12 man Italian team for Verona after his consistent performances in the past month. Rebellin’s decision to sit out the Tour de France (to concentrate on the World Cup) was a key factor in his not being chosen for Athens.
Cyclingnews.com Sept 2:
David Rebellin is not an Argentine citizen just yet, according to a statement from his agent, Fred Morini. Responding to articles in the Italian media that stated Rebellin had already become an Argentinean citizen, Moreni pointed out that Rebellin is still waiting for his Argentinean passport.
Rebellin is seeking Argentinean citizenship because, he believes, he will not be selected for the world championships in Verona, Italy, next month as a member of the Italian team.
Cyclingnews.com Sep 16:
Italian Davide Rebellin has been given the green light to race for Argentina at the World Championships in two and a half weeks. The Argentinean Minister of Sport, Claudio Moresi, has given Rebellin permission in writing, and the UCI has also given the OK. Rebellin chose for Argentina because he has been overlooked for the Italian team several times in the past, despite being one of the top one day riders in the world.
I think it’s better to have one/two leaders and the rest of the team of guys willing to work for those leaders. The head coach of the Italian team choose Petacchi/Bettini instead of Petacchi/Rebellin.
I’d say it’s a good way to go. Petacchi for a sprint finish and Bettini (not Rebellin) for a break away finish.
If you put Bettini and Rebellin in the same team, none of them is going to work for the other so it’s one less rider to help. I think Bettini is a wise choice cause I see Bettini work for Petacchi if he’s asked for but I don’t see Rebellin do that.
So now, Rebellin is going to the world champs but with another nationality