Italy's Paolo Bettini is eyeing a record third straight title in the World Road Race Championship here this Sunday.
Bettini said Friday he's feeling stronger than when he won his first two and was motivated by the fact that ''Spain pummeled us'' at this summer's Beijing Olympics.
Bettini, 34, nicknamed the Cricket for his compact size and jiggling riding style, has singled out Spain's Oscar Freire as his biggest threat to becoming the World Cycling Champion.
Freire, 32, who is nicknamed the Cat, has won the crown on a record-equalling three separate occasions, like Belgian great Eddy Merckx.
But the last of those wins was four years ago.
However, Freire has a powerhouse team behind him this time and Bettini reckons he's the man to beat.
''If Freire gets into the frame you know it's probably going to come down to you or him,'' Bettini told the website of Gazzetta dello Sport.
The Spanish three-time champ is backed by Tour de France titleholder Carlos Sastre, Giro d'Italia and Tour of Spain winner Alberto Contador, Olympic champion Samuel Sanchez and two-time World Road Race runner-up Alejandro Valverde.
Bettini said he had ''full confidence'' in his team despite the fact that Italy have not won a big race this year aside from Damiano Cunego's Amstel Gold Race victory.
Cunego, 26, who won the Giro in 2004, is one of three top men backing Bettini.
Davide Rebellin, 37, was helped to the silver medal at the Beijing Olympics by Bettini and aims to return the favour on Sunday.
The other leading member of the team is Marzio Bruseghin, 34, third in this year's Giro.
Danilo Di Luca, who won the 2007 Giro but has an image problem because of past doping woes, was left out of the team by coach Franco Ballerini despite featuring in Beijing.
''It's going to be Italy v. Spain again,'' Ballerini said Friday.
''Bettini is feeling strong because he has a strong team behind him''.
Ballerini said the other teams with ''an outside chance'' of producing a winner are Belgium with 2005 champ Tom Boonen and youngster Greg Van Avermaert, and Germany with Stefan Schumacher, third on home ground last time.
