Bettini to ride in pain

The 32-year-old from Tuscany hit a signpost during the recent Tirreno-Adriatico stage race and was diagnosed with a cracked left rib and bruised chest muscle after undergoing hospital checks on Thursday.

He is determined to start the 294-km race but is unsure if he will be competitive in the first big one-day event of the 2007 cycling season.

"I went hard to simulate race conditions during a training ride and I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my ribs. I couldn't breathe and had to stop riding," Bettini said.

"I did some checks in hospital and discovered I've got a cracked rib and a large bruise on my chest muscle. I'm not in a lot of pain when I am walking but it does hurt when I go hard on my bike."

Last year Bettini rode Milan-San Remo with two compressed vertebrae after a crash and sacrificed his own chances of success to help team mate and compatriot Filippo Pozzato.

Despite his injuries he still wants to try and win this year.

"To tell the truth if it wasn't such an important race I probably wouldn't ride but Milan-San Remo is a big goal and one of the most important races of my season," he said.

"I really suffered last year but want to win this year because I'll be wearing the world champion's rainbow jersey.

"Unfortunately now I don't know what I can do. If it doesn't hurt me too much I'll be up there trying to win but if it's a problem I might not be competitive. I just hope the adrenalin of racing will help numb the pain."

If Bettini struggles, his Belgian team mate Tom Boonen will lead the powerful Quick Step team.

Other possible contenders are 2006 winner Pozzato and sprinters Thor Hushovd of Norway and Alessandro Petacchi of Italy.