Bettini not "on track" for Beijing

Paolo Bettini is riding on the track this autumn, but denied that he was looking to be there for the 2008 Olympics. "I will concentrate myself totally on the road race in Beijing and try to repeat by success in Athens," he told Eurosport.

Bettini showed a strong performance in the Grenoble Six Days, where he finished fifth with partner Marco Villa, and is currently competing in the Munich Six Days. This impressed Italian track coach Silvio Martinello, who started considering the possibility of Bettini riding the points race in Beijing. "That was too quick," said Bettini. "My focus is on the road, of course. I am a newcomer to the track and have a grand total of two weeks' experience - the specialists have been doing it for 15 years!"

There is at least one man out there who would like to see Bettini change over to the track. Erik Zabel joked, "I will talk with Martinello and see if he won't put Paolo on the track - then we wouldn't have to face him on the road any more!"