National coach Davide Cassani has finally announced the nine riders of the Italian national team that will do the World Championships road race on Sunday in Richmond.

Vincenzo Nibali, Diego Ulissi, Daniele Bennati, Manuel Quinziato, Daniel Oss, Matteo Trentin, Fabio Felline, Giacomo Nizzolo and Elia Viviani are the nine riders who have got the nod while Salvatore Puccio and Sonny Colbrelli remain as reserves. All 11 riders are in Richmond.

Cassani shows commitment to his two sprinters Viviani and Nizzolo and can also count on fast riders Trentin and Felline. Nibali and Ulissi, meanwhile, are there to attack earlier. Quinziato, Oss and Bennati will be domestiques.

The  Azzurri  has had six years without a medal; Colbrelli was 13th last year in Ponferrada and Nibali fourth in Florence two years ago. The last podium spot was tacken by Alessandro Ballan who won gold in 2008 when Damiano Cunego made it a 1-2 with the silver meda. Paolo Bettini won in 2006 and 2007. Luca Paolini took bronze in 2004, Cipollini gold in 2002 and Bettini silver in 2001.