Bergamo, Oct 20: Italian Paolo Bettini, riding for Mapei, won cycling's World Cup here Saturday after the last of 10 classics, the Tour of Lombardy, won by compatriot Michele Bartoli of the Fasso Bortolo team. Bettini held a slim lead over Johan Museeuw prior to the season-ending race and with the Belgian opting not to compete here he only needed to finish to ensure he lifted the trophy.

Bartoli, 32, held off compatriot Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) and Swiss Oscar Camenzind (Phonak) in an exciting sprint finish to win the race for the first time in his career after finishing in the top five six times since 1995. Some superb peloton leading by the Fassa Bortolo team enabled Bartoli to fend off some early attacks to win the hilliest of the classics.

Bureau Report