Italy coach Paolo Bettini earlier today announced a 13-man squad for next week's world championships that is devoid of several standouts due to new anti-doping rules.

The Italian cycling federation approved new regulations in June preventing any rider who has been banned for doping for longer than six months from ever wearing the national team jersey again.

That ruled out Alessandro Petacchi and Davide Rebellin, both possible contenders for the course in Copenhagen, as well as Ivan Basso, Michele Scarponi and Danilo Di Luca.

Instead, Italy's hopes rest on sprinter Daniele Bennati, who finished first and second in the final two stages of the Spanish Vuelta last weekend.

Also named to the road squad were: Manuel Belletti, Oscar Gatto, Francesco Gavazzi, Sacha Modolo, Daniel Oss, Luca Paolini, Manuel Quinziato, Matteo Tosatto, Giovanni Visconti and Elia Viviani.

Marco Pinotti and Adriano Malori were picked for the time trial.

"This squad is shaped to renew the honour of the Azzurra jersey," Italian cycling federation president Renato Di Rocco said.

The 37-year-old Tosatto, entering his eighth worlds, will likely be the team captain.

Gavazzi also won a Vuelta stage last week, gaining him a last-minute spot in the squad.

Bettini recently escaped injury when his small plane went down in the waters off the Tuscan coast. He won three world titles as a rider, and is seeking his first as coach.

"The circuit is fast but there's a big unknown in terms of the final uphill part," Bettini said. "It could finish with a group sprint, but it's an open route, so it's not just for sprinters."

The 2011 road cycling world championships starts in Copenhagen on September 19, with the elite men's road race to be held six days later on Sunday the 25th of September.

Watch video highlights from all 2011 road cycling world championship events in the video section on where else but Roadcycling.com.