Alessandro Ballan took top honors in Varese two weeks ago, earning himself the moniker world champion. He is a worthy champion, one who is, as Damiano Cungeo asserted, "active from March through October." A multi-faceted stylist, Ballan has taken wins in hard men's classics (Flanders, De Panne), mountainous stage races (Vuelta 2008, 7th stage), and now, one day championships.
One thing Ballan hasn't done a lot of as a pro is travel. He has remained relatively Euro-centric over his career, as his Lampre team does not have a big enough budget to field competitive teams all over the world. but now that Ballan is the new world champ, should that change?
Paolo Bettini, as two time world champion, made sure to visit America and other countries during his reign. The thrill of seeing a current world champion was not lost on the American fan base, as Bettini was hounded for autographs and pictures throughout his two Tours of California. Ballan, while on a smaller team than Bettini, would do well to lobby for appearances out of Europe.
Whether Lampre's management will accommodate a more diverse schedule for Ballan is in doubt. As a smaller Italian team, Lampre is more concerned with the Giro and other Italian races. Ballan has never raced his home tour before, and will likely toe the line for the first time in this year's upcoming Giro. After that, he'll probably take a much needed rest and skip the Tour de France.
Hopefully Ballan will consider attending the Tour of California this year. It would offer him ideal preparation for the early spring classics, and would give him the opportunity to show off his new kit to non-European fans. Plus, he would delight the American crowd in California, who have grown used to seeing the world champion at the early season stage race.
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