ROME, Sept 14, 2009 (AFP) – Alessandro Ballan and former Tour of Italy winners Damiano Cunego and Ivan Basso have been named in a formidable Italian team for the world road race championships later this month.

Although Ballan is the reigning champion his Lampre team-mate Cunego is the form man of the moment following his second stage victory in the Tour of Spain on Sunday.

Such is his current hot streak that the Italian press believe Cunego will be the man the team rides for in the hilly men’s road race in Mendrisio, Switzerland on September 27.

Italians have an impressive record in the recent history of the world championships, winning the coveted rainbow jersey four times in the past decade.

Cunego, a climbing specialist, finished runner-up to Ballan last year in Varese, Italy where Denmark’s Matti Breschel finished third.

Italy coach Franco Ballerini has announced an initial 11-man squad that will be reduced to nine in the coming days.

Italy road race team:
Alessandro Ballan, Damiano Cunego and Marzio Bruseghin (Lampre), Filippo Pozzato (Katusha), Stefano Garzelli and Luca Paolini (Acqua Sapone), Ivan Basso (Liquigas), Giovanni Visconti (Isd-Neri), Michele Scarponi (Diquigiovanni), Mauro Santambrogio (Lampre) and Matteo Tosatto (Quick Step)
Time trial:
Marco Pinotti (Columbia)