Bettini helps Worlds tickets boom

The victory by Italy's Paolo Bettini (Quick Step) on Thursday's stage of the Vuelta a España has seen tickets sales for this month's World Championships boom, according to organizers of the event. World Championship organizers said that the morning after Bettini's Grand Tour stage win saw them sell 400 tickets alone to the finish of this month's race.

The World Championships will be held in Varese, Italy from Septmeber 23 - 28. Bettini will lineup as a part of Italy's famed squadra azzurra at the world title race, where he will attempt to secure a third consecutive UCI World Road Championship title.

Last month Bettini relinquished his position as reigning Olympic Games road champion. After winning the 2004 gold medal in Athens, Greece, he was unseated by Spain's Samuel Sánchez in Beijing, China.