Freshly crowned World Cycling Champion Alessandro Ballan on Monday thanked team leader Paolo Bettini for giving him his head in the World Road Race Championship in Varese on Sunday.
''The captain is a great champion and a great man too,'' said Ballan, a lanky 28-year-old who blasted away from the pack 3km out to succeed 2006 and 2007 winner Bettini, who retired after the race.
Ballan, whose only significant win before Sunday was last year's Tour of Flanders, confirmed that the Italian team had been working to give Bettini, 34, a record third straight win.
''But then there were some difficulties towards the end and he told us to go for it,'' Ballan told Italian radio.
Far from being downcast after failing in his historic bid, Bettini ''was happy I'd won,'' Ballan said.
But the new champ said he'd had to console Damiano Cunego, his 27-year-old club team leader, who came in second.
''He was a bit disappointed of course, second place stings.
''But Cunego is young and strong and I bucked him up, telling him I'd be back riding for him next year''.
''I was born to be a 'domestique' - but now I suddenly find I'm world champ too''.
