Italy's Bettini retains rainbow jersey in Stuttgart

Italy's Paolo Bettini capped a turbulent week by retaining his rainbow jersey in the elite men's road race at the cycling world championships in Stuttgart, Germany on Sunday.

After the field had been whittled down to just five riders over a dramatic final lap Bettini won a five-man sprint to finish the 267.4 km Killesberg Park race in six hours 44 minutes 43 seconds.

The Russian Alexandr Kolobnev was second, with home favourite Stefan Schumacher of Germany third. Luxembourg's Frank Schleck and Australia's Cadel Evans finished just outside the podium spots.

"It was not an easy win and I say thanks to all of Italy," said an emotional Bettini at the finish line.

"It was a tough week for me. They accused me of everything and I responded with victory."

Ireland’s sole representative, Philip Deignan was one of 124 riders of the 196 starters not to finish on a day of brutal attrition.

The Donegal man, who has just completed the three-week Vuelta a Espana, was dropped on a climb with two laps to go, and though he got back to the front group again a few kilomtres later, he stopped after being dropped again at the start of the final lap.

The race, over 14 laps of a hilly 19.1km circuit, was marked by numerous escape attempts throughout but the only effect was to steadily drop riders off the back of the peloton as the pace increased.

With two laps to go, around 45 riders were still in the hunt, including three-times champion Oscar Freire of Spain and the rest of the pre-race favourites.

Italy's Davide Rebellin and Kolobnev finally got the lead riders worried when they went clear in a surprise attack with just over two laps to go.

The pair built up a lead that grew to 35 seconds, though the Spanish team soon moved immediately to the front to reel them back in, with 16 kilometres remaining.

The speed of the chase also had the effect of splitting the leading group again, with a new group of 15 riders leaving the rest behind.

Bettini was at its head followed by Kolobnev, Evans, Schumacher and Schleck. That quintet left the rest trailing and went on to contest the final dash for the line, with Bettini breaking late to surge past Kolobnev and seal the win.