Topic: Paolo Bettini

Paolo Bettini (born April 1, 1974 in Cecina, Livorno, Tuscany) is a former Italian champion road racing cyclist. Considered the best classics specialists of his generation, and probably one of the strongest of all times, he won gold medals in the 2004 Athens Olympics road race and in the 2006 and 2007 World Road Race Championships. He is nicknamed Il Grillo ("the cricket") for his repeated sudden attacks and his sprinting style.

He gained prominence by winning Liège-Bastogne-Liège in 2000 and 2002. He set the record for World Cup wins in a season in 2003, winning the Milan-Sanremo, HEW Cyclassics and Clásica de San Sebastián. He won the Giro di Lombardia in 2005 and 2006, the Züri-Metzgete in 2001 and 2005 and Tirreno-Adriatico in 2004.

Paolo Bettini lived with his family on the Tuscany coast. He began racing when he was seven and won 23 of his first 24 races. His first bike had a secondhand frame which his father, Giuliano, had painted orange. The components were cannibalised from other bikes. He started racing after the encouragement of his brother.