Italy's Paolo Bettini comes back to racing in Milan (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Paolo Bettini, 34, will continue in the Milano Six Day today despite a nasty crash on Tuesday. It is the final race in a 12-year career for the two-time World Champion from La California, Italy.
"The idea is to get back on the track and try again," explained Bettini yesterday to La Gazzetta dello Sport. "The promise was to say good bye to the fans in Milano and Tuesday was not the best way of doing so."
Ukraine's Yaroslav Popovych went down on the banking at the temporary velodrome at Milano's bicycle trade show, EICMA. Bettini and Australian Luke Roberts crashed as they tried to avoid Popovych, with the former breaking his helmet after colliding with the tracks inner wall. Doctors preformed a check, including a CAT scan of his head, and they released him from the hospital at 19:00.
"I have to admit I don't want to take risks and I am not in shape to race the Madison at the moment. ... It is too bad because in the last three days of Amsterdam I was feeling strong and I wanted to win this Six Day."
Bettini announced his retirement on the eve of the road world championships in Varese. The race was his last official race on the road. (GB)
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