World Champion Alessandro Ballan and Damiano Cunego both from Italy’s team Lampre have pulled out of the Vuelta A Espana in preparation of the World Championships in Mendrisio, Switzerland on September 27th.
Both Italians are considered top favourites for this year’s 262 kilometer race. Cunego had already won two mountain stages in this year’s Vuelta A Espana.
The Italian team will be going for an unprecedented four consecutive world road race titles.
Wouter Weylandt (Quickstep) abandoned the Vuelta after yesterday’s crash in the final three kilometres. The Belgian sprinter broke his hand after Julian Dean (Garmin) took him down when he hit a spectator.