Italian national coach Davide Cassani has selected a 13-rider squad for the elite men's road race at the World Championships in late September. The diverse group will be led by Sicilian Vincenzo Nibali (Trek-Segafredo), in case Nibali is unable to return to form at Italy's home championships.

Joining Nibali on the 13-member long list are Alberto Bettiol, Damiano Caruso, Sonny Colbrelli, Gianni Moscon, Fausto Masnada, Matteo Fabbro, Nicola Conti, and Andrea Bagioli, Gianluca Brambilla, Diego Ulissi, and Giovanni Visconti.

Filippo Ganna and Eduardo Affini will compete in the time trial.

Bettiol, Caruso, and Colbrelli will be in good shape after riding the Tour de France, but both could struggle on the very tough Imola circuit. Bazioli defeated Primoz Roglic for the stage win at the Tour de l'Ain, but he is only 21 years old. Ulissi won the first stage of the Tour de Luxembourg and is probably the best leader to replace Nibali.

Davide Formolo, who crashed on stage 10 of the Tour de France and underwent surgery a few days ago, has already started riding with his home trainer and is eager to make the Italian team.

Cassani will reduce the 13 riders to 11 on Saturday after the Giro dell'Appennino, with eight riders and two reserve riders heading to Imola.

The elite men's world championship road race will take place on Sunday, September 27, with the elite women's race the day before.

The 2020 World Championships were originally scheduled to take place in Aigle and Martigny, but were cancelled after a coronavirus outbreak restricted rallies in Switzerland.

The men's road race will consist of nine laps of a 28.8 km circuit, with climbs on Mazzolano (2.8 km, average gradient 5.9%) and Cima Galisterna (2.7 km, 6.4%).

Italy hosted the elite men's world championships in Imola in 1968, which Vittorio Adorni won solo. Cassani watched this race from the roadside as a 10-year-old boy.

"The 1968 race has special memories for me. My father took me to see the race and the excitement of the race made me want to become a cyclist. That was the beginning of this great adventure," Cassani said.

"Our team is a mix of talented young riders like Fabbro and Bazioli and more experienced riders. We wanted to give Formolo a chance. He never gave up hope and has resumed training indoors. We have had a lot of injuries, but we never lose faith in our potential. He expects good results

Unfortunately for Italy and for Cassani, Nibali is not so sure about his chances of success in Imola, that is, about his own form. The circuit's steep but short climbs seem to suit aggressive riders like Belgium's Wout Van Aert and France's Julien Alaphilippe.

"If I'm in good shape, this track might suit me, but it all depends on how I feel," Nibali told La Gazzetta dello Sport after a lap of the track on Tuesday.

"My form will be the deciding factor; if I feel good on the ninth lap, maybe I can make a difference. I tried to find answers to my form questions in Tirreno-Adriatico, but I didn't find them. I still have questions. I told Cassani the same."