Quick Step’s Paolo Bettini saddles up for a crucial eighth leg of the World Cup in Zürich, Switzerland, on Sunday knowing that Jan Ullrich could throw a major wrench into the works and end his impressive run of victories.

The 29-year-old Italian champion took the World Cup lead last week after his stunning victory in the San Sebastian Classic.

That win, which Bettini timed to perfection with a winning sprint ahead of compatriot Ivan Basso - Italy's best placed rider in the recent Tour de France - gave Bettini a 97-point lead over Lotto-Domo’s Peter Van Petegem.

However on Sunday Bettini's bid for his third World Cup victory on the trot could be rumbled by Swiss resident Ullrich, a well-established stage racer who has shown that the one-day classics are well within his grasp.

"I expect Ullrich to be in great form," Bettini, who is the reigning World Cup champion, admitted in La Gazzetta dello Sport on Friday.

Ullrich, who finished an impressive third behind Bettini and second placed Italian Davide Rebellin in the HEW Classics two weeks ago, may up the pace on the race in his newly-adopted homeland.

The 29-year-old Bianchi rider seems to still have plenty left in the tank after his second place finish on this year's Tour de France behind Lance Armstrong.

And despite playing no part in the overall World Cup contest, victory in the 90th edition of the 237km race - which although missing Armstrong will see the bulk of the peloton’s top stars compete - would not be sniffed at, especially as he has a score to settle.

Ullrich, who has come runner up on the Tour five times now, has also had to settle for second place in Zürich three times. In 2001 he came second behind Bettini and a year earlier Swiss Laurent Dufaux beat him to the line. The German was also second behind Rebellin in 1997, the only year he won the Tour de France. This time, his long-time coach Rudy Pevenage said Ullrich is determined to get the timing right at the finish of the Swiss event. "He wants to ride a good race and has trained very hard at home. He is motivated and in good form," Pevenage said.

Ullrich's inclusion, despite being one of the main draws of the race, will still play a second role to Bettini’s run at the overall World Cup title. Bettini got his campaign off to the perfect start by winning the season-opening Milan-San Remo but Van Petegem took over the World Cup mantle after winning the Tour of Flanders and the Paris-Roubaix. Now, after a great Tour de France ride, Bettini has jumped right back into contention, holding off Ullrich to win the Hamburg’s HEW Classics then following up with last week's success.

Van Petegem, who is second on 203 points behind Bettini, will have it all to do in Zürich, and the two remaining races - the Paris-Tours and the Tour of Lombardy - if he wants to shift the talented little Italian.

Bettini said he feels good, but admits the race is far from over.

"I'm feeling good and the distance of Zürich appeals to me. I won there in 2001, was second last year and fourth in 2000. So my aim is to do well again this year," said Bettini. In the event of defeat, Bettini will at least look for a top place finish as he attempts to hold off his main chasers. "My main challengers, apart from Ullrich, will be Boogerd (third in the World Cup with 164 points), (Francesco) Casagrande, (Ivan) Basso and (Danilo) Di Luca."
Justin Davis - Agence France Presse
Copyright AFP2003

Merckx wins Tour de l'Ain
Axel Merckx (Lotto-Domo) won the Tour de l’Ain Friday after the fourth and last stage, a 123.3km run from Bellegarde-on-Valserine and Culoz.

Max Van Heeswijk (U.S. Postal) won the final stage, ahead of Samuel Dumoulin, who came second in the final classification Results
1. Max Van Heeswijk (Ned), U.S. Postal), 123.3km en 2:04:57. (average speed: 44.850 km/h)
2. Samuel Dumoulin (F), s.t.
3. Yuri Krivstov (Ukr), s.t.
4. Philippe Gilbert (B), s.t.
5. Walter Beneteau (F), s.t.

Overall
1. Axel Merckx (B), Lotto-Domo, 14:04:16
2. Samuel Dumoulin (F), at 0:53.3. Jérôme Pineau (F), at 1:03
4. Ludovic Turpin (F), at :05
5. Richard Virenque (F), at 2:01

Lastras takes overall at Burgos
Spaniard Pablo Lastras (iBanesto.com) took the overall in the Tour of Burgos in the final stage on Friday, won by a countryman, Gorka Gonzalez (Euskaltel-Euskadi).

Results
1. Gorka Gonzalez (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, 150km in 3:08:58 (average speed: 47,627 km/h)
2. Juan Fuentes (Sp), at 0:02
3. Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano (Sp), s.t.
4. Dave Bruylandts (B), s.t.
5. Miguel Angel Martin (Sp), at 0:48
6. Jorge Ferrio (Sp) s.t.
7. Niki Aebersold (Swi) s.t.
8. Roberto Heras (Sp), s.t.
9. Oscar Sevilla (Sp, )s.t.<
10. Santiago Blanco (Sp), s.t.

Overall
1. Pablo Lastras (Sp), iBanesto.com, 15:35:49
2. Oscar Pereiro (Sp), at 0:10
3. Carlos Garcia Quesada (Sp), at 1:32
4. Giampaolo Cheula (I), at 1:48
5. Iker Flores (Sp), at 2:35
6. Daniel Atienza (Sp), at 2:36
7. Daniele Nardello (I), at 2:55
8. Mikel Pradera (Sp), at 3:40
9. Domingo Sanchez (Sp), at 4:48
10. Nico Sijmens (B), at 7:03

Koerts first in Danish stage
Jan Koerts (Bankgiroloterij) won Friday’s fourth stage of the Tour of Denmark. Michael Skelde (Fakta) retained the overall lead.

Results
1. Jan Koerts ()Ned, Bankgiroloterij, 98km in 2:05:22
2. Juri Metlushenko (UKkr) s.t.
3. Robert Foerster (G), s.t.
4. Simone Cadamuro (I), s.t.
5. Aurélien Clerc (Swi, ), s.t.

Overall
1. Michael Skelde (Den), Tea, fakta, 15:41:02
2. Laurent Brochard (F), at 0:14
3. Jurgen Van Goolen (B), at 0:16
4. Mark Scanlon (Irl), at 0:19
5. Aart Vierhouten (Ned), at 0:23

Fothen claims TT title
German Markus Fothen won the time trial Friday during the U-23 European road cycling championships in Athens.

Fothen covered the 32km course in 41:32:79, ahead of Slovenian Jure Zrimsek (41:46.90) and Russian Vladimir Goussev (41:57.46).

Results
1. Markus Fothen (G), 32km in 41:32.79
2. Jure Zrimsek (Slo), 41:46.90
3. Vladimir Goussev (Rus), 41:57.46
4. Juan Jose Acebo Cobo (Sp), 42:03.34
5. Alexander Bespalov (Rus), 42:03.41