Bagioli and Bettiol lead ambitious Italian team at World Championships

Italy have confirmed the 10 names that will be travelling to Wollongong for the Elite World Championships, with several cards to play for the top spots, and a very well rounded team full of puncheurs and classics riders.

The team will have three main cards to play. Matteo Trentin comes as an outsider, however it is widely believed that he will have an outsider role, whilst Alberto Bettiol and Andrea Bagioli will lead the team. Bettiol has won a stage at the Tour de Suisse and showed good form during the Tour de France. His puncheur and climbing abilities put him up as a dangerous rider, capable of riding long distances and sprint with the best on his best day.

Andrea Bagioli snuck into the main plans with a podium-earning performance at the GP de Montréal, only beind Tadej Pogacar and Wout van Aert. The Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team rider may be one of the most dangerous outsiders for the race. Edoardo Affini and Matteo Sobrero will be riding the individual time-trial in search of a medal, Filippo Ganna is believed to race the Worlds to defend his title, however it is not clear whether that will happen or not.

"We are not favorites but it is an unpredictable formation, with athletes who, when they wore the blue jersey, often played well," national team coach Daniele Bennati said. The team is not fully known, however besides these five riders five more classics riders will travel to Australia: National champion Filippo Zana, Davide Ballerini, Samuele Battistella, Nicola Conci and Lorenzo Rota.

Italy for men's World Championships Road Race (10 riders, 8 will race): Edoardo Affini, Davide Ballerini, Andrea Bagioli, Samuele Battistella, Alberto Bettiol, Nicola Conci, Lorenzo Rota, Matteo Sobrero, Matteo Trentin and Filippo Zana.

Italy for men's World Championships ITT: Edoardo Affini and Matteo Sobrero.