According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Italian national coach Paolo Bettini has selected his roster for the world road race championships that takes place in Florence later this month. As expected, the team will be spearheaded by Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) while Adriano Malori (Lampre) and Marco Pinotti (BMC) will ride the time trial.

Prior to the world championships, few teams have gained more attention than the Italian whose status as home nation has put national coach Paolo Bettini under increased pressure. On the back of some below-par showings, expectations are that the home country will play an important role on the hilly course in Florence later this month.

Bettini has himself admitted that it had been tough to select this year's roster with numerous riders showing good form but according to Gazzetta dello Sport, he has now made up his mind. Set to be announced tomorrow, the roster consists of 11 riders of which 9 will ride while 2 will serve as reserves.

As expected, Vincenzo Nibali will headline the roster. The Italian has made the home race the centrepiece of the second part of his season and even though he didn't manage to win the Vuelta, he showed that he is ready to lead the home country.

His trusted domestique Alessandro Vanotti has also made it onto the roster, the reliable Italian being Nibali's guard on the flat stages in his major races. Luca Paolini is set to play the role as road captain and will be an important rider in a race where radio communication is not allowed.

Bettini has expressed public doubt over the selection of Filippo Pozzato. On paper, the course may be too hard for the Lampre rider but he recently showed good form by winning the GP Ouest France-Plouay and the Coppa Agostoni. According to the Italian newspaper, Pozzato has been selected for the race.

Apart from those three riders, the roster is dominated by climbers who will all excel on the hilly course. Rinaldo Nocentini, Giampaolo Caruso, Diego Ulissi, Michele Scarponi, Giovanni Visconti, Damiano Caruso and Ivan Santaromita complete what shapes up as a formidable roster.

The Italian newspaper adds that Ivan Basso, Daniele Ratto and Simone Ponzi may all be asked to join the squad should one or more riders be forced to cancel their participation.

While there has been much doubt over the roster for the road race, the two spots for the time trial have been awarded to the obvious choices of Adriano Malori and Marco Pinotti.

The road race takes place on September 29 while the time trial will be held four days earlier.