Erik Zabel missed the gold medal in a world championship which was his last big aim in his career. Two years after his gold medal at the Olympic games in Athens Paolo Bettini has won the street world championship. After 266 kilometers the 32 year old Italian rider has won against Erik Zabel who opened the sprint too early. Spaniard Alejandro Valverde finished third. Last Italian rider in the jersey of the world champion was Mario Cipollini in 2002. „I had the dream to win this world championship“, said Erik Zabel.

„Maybe I was working too much to close the gap to the leading riders. But I had to try all or nothing. It´s hard to see that you are leading 50 meters ahead of the finishing line but being beaten in the end. Anyway, being second in a world championship is also great“, explained Zabel who also got silver in Verona in 2004 and bronze in 2002 in Zolder. Erik Zabel who has done races since January got his good shape by winning two stages in this year´s Vuelta a Espana.

The results of the Bund Deutscher Radfahrer in this world championship was really good: U23 rider Gerald Ciolek (Cologne) got gold and Erik Zabel and Trixi Worrack (Cottbus) the silver medal. „We are really satisfied with the results. These really good individual performances are based on a good teamwork“, said Rudolf Scharping, president of the BDR on Sunday. But in despite of the fantastic performance of the 36 year old Berlin rider Heinz Müller (1952) and Rudi Altig (1966) are the only German world champoins.

In the two final laps out of 12 with twi 500 meter climbs a leading group with Stefan Schreck (Erfurt) as the only German rider was able to escape. They built up a head start of 15 minutes maximum. But it did not help.Finally they have been cathced up and the race became exciting. Several riders attacked and increased the speed.

In the last two attacks Bettini, Fabian Wegmann (Freiburg) and Davide Rebellin, captain of team Gerolsteiner were in lead. Three kilometers ahead of the finishing line the runaways were catched up again and the teams prepared the final. Bettini was clever and waited for the perfect moment. He let Zabel in front and countered 50 meters ahead of the finishing line.

After his victory Bettini compimented Zabel: „Beating Erik Zabel is a great feeling. We are friends sice years and have done so many races together. He is the personification of professional cycing.“ Finally the two old hand riders embraced.