Bettini trains as Devolder pulls out of Olympics

As the Tour de France reaches the threshold of the final week, Quickstep duo Paulo Bettini and Stijn Devolder have very different plans for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Bettini buidling for the Olympics
Olympic Champion Paolo Bettini, has been training on roads of Abruzzo and was joined by Dmytro Grabovskyy, Alessandro Proni, Leonardo Scarselli, Andrea Tonti and Giovanni Visconti.

“This retreat, explains Sports Director Luca Guercilena, represents the last important block of training before Beijing. It will be an important occasion to verify Bettini’s condition for the Olympics. We’ve planned a training session of about 5 hours, during which we’ll face climbs with lengths and technical characteristics similar to the Olympic circuit. After that we’re going to longer training, about 7 hours. Then on Saturday the guys will do some brief training to blow off steam before Sunday’s race.”

No to Olympics
2008 Tour of Flanders winner Stijn Devolder has decided not to participate in the Olympic Games in Beijing.

“Giving up the Olympics is a difficult, painful decision. Since the beginning of the year I’ve participated in many races, always trying to race at the highest level and also expending a lot, both physically and mentally. At this time I want to concentrate 100% on the Tour de France, giving it my best for myself and for the team. The experience I’m achieving in this Tour de France will be very important for me in view of my future participations in this important race.”