World Champion Paolo Bettini is "disappointed" in his former teammate Johan Museeuw, who recently admitted to doping in his final year as a professional, 2004. Bettini rode with the 1996 World Champion together on the Quick-Step squad and considered him a role model. The Belgian admitted not being "100 per cent honest" before retiring.
"I wanted to end my career in style, that's why I did things which were wrong," said Museeuw January 24.
"I am really disappointed in Johan, who, like [Michele] Bartoli in Italy, was a maestro for me," said the 32 year-old Italian to La Gazzetta dello Sport during a sporting ceremony in Toscana. "I have made my career and some of my best results [with him in the team].
"Museeuw has made a mistake in declaring that he doped because he wanted to end his career with important results. Honesty has to prompt a rider when is the right moment to stop; and not to create schemes," said Bettini.
Starting Saturday, January 27, Il Grillo Livornese will join his Quick-Step teammates for a training camp in Marina di Bibbona, near his hometown of La California. The camp will be the last of its kind before the Belgium-based team starts its season.