Nizzolo wins Gran Piemonte

Italian champion Giacomo Nizzolo (Trek-Segafredo) claimed victory at Gran Piemonte, beating Fernando Gaviria (Etixx-QuickStep) and Daniele Bennati (Tinkoff) in a sprint finish in Agliè.

The victory was Nizzolo’s sixth of the current season and his second in recent weeks following his triumph at the Coppa Bernocchi. Nizzolo will be part of the Italian team at the UCI Road World Championships in Doha next month, where he will split leadership duties with Elia Viviani (Sky).

"It's a great victory because it comes at the end of a race contested at a very high tempo. I'm also happy because I felt great on the climbs,” Nizzolo said. “To be honest, this morning, I didn't feel well – I had fever or something like that but once I started racing, I felt normal. I couldn't ask for better timing, winning a race ahead of the World Championships. Now I know that I can go to Doha with great motivation."

Some 40 riders were still in contention come the slightly uphill finishing sprint in Agliè, where Nizzolo produced a fine acceleration inside the last 200 metres to lead into the gentle final curves to claim the honours ahead of Gaviria and Bennati.

Juan José Lobato (Movistar) took fourth place, while the on-form Sonny Colbrelli (Bardiani-CSF) – winner of the Tre Valli Varesine, Coppa Agostoni and Coppa Sabatini in recent weeks – had to settle for fifth.

Philippe Gilbert (BMC), Ben Swift (Sky) and Filippo Pozzato (Wilier-Southeast) all placed in the top ten but were never in a position to discommode Nizzolo and Gaviria.

The race got off to a rapid opening on leaving the start in Diano d’Alba, with a group of 38 riders – including Gilbert, Swift and Bennati – breaking clear in the early kilometres, with the Italian national team and Wilier-Southeast forced to lead the chase behind once the gap nudged towards two minutes.

After two hours of racing, the average speed was a brisk 48.95kph, but the break’s lead was inside 40 seconds, and the unity of the group fragmented soon afterwards. After a spate of attacking, Stéphane Rossetto (Cofidis) went clear at the end of the race, and opted to press on alone rather than wait for company with a shade under 100 kilometres remaining.

There was a détente in the peloton as the remnants of the early break were caught, and Rossetto was able to stretch his advantage out to a maximum of 4:40 before the sprinters’ teams began to wind the pace up once again on the run-in towards Agliè.

By the climb of Alice Superiore, Rossetto’s lead was already down to just two minutes, and the work of BMC on the ascent made further inroads into his advantage, and also reduced the main peloton to just 40 or so riders.

Rossetto stuck gamely to his task in the final 20 kilometres even though there was a sense of inevitability about his fate. 10 kilometres from home, his lead was just 19 seconds, but it wasn’t until Etixx-QuickStep took up the reins on the approach to Agliè that the gap was eventually snapped shut.

After Rossetto was swept up with two kilometres remaining, the scene was set for a sprint finish, and it Nizzolo, riding for the Italian national team, who conjured up the winning effort.

Full Results

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Giacomo Nizzolo (Ita) Trek-Segafredo4:25:21
2Fernando Gaviria (Col) Etixx - Quick-StepRow 1 - Cell 2
3Daniele Bennati (Ita) Tinkoff TeamRow 2 - Cell 2
4Juan Jose Lobato (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 3 - Cell 2
5Sonny Colbrelli (Ita) Bardiani CSFRow 4 - Cell 2
6Philippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC Racing TeamRow 5 - Cell 2
7Ben Swift (GBr) Team SkyRow 6 - Cell 2
8Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Etixx - Quick-StepRow 7 - Cell 2
9Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Wilier Triestina-SoutheastRow 8 - Cell 2
10Alberto Bettiol (Ita) Cannondale-DrapacRow 9 - Cell 2
11Romain Hardy (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 10 - Cell 2
12Manuele Mori (Ita) Lampre - MeridaRow 11 - Cell 2
13Kristoffer Skjerping (Nor) Cannondale-DrapacRow 12 - Cell 2
14Jan Bakelants (Bel) AG2R La MondialeRow 13 - Cell 2
15Luis Angel Mate (Spa) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 14 - Cell 2
16Maciej Paterski (Pol) CCC Sprandi PolkowiceRow 15 - Cell 2
17Angel Madrazo Ruiz (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGARow 16 - Cell 2
18Simone Petilli (Ita) Lampre - MeridaRow 17 - Cell 2
19Tiago Machado (Por) Team KatushaRow 18 - Cell 2
20Rudy Molard (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits0:00:06
21Jon Irisarri Rincon (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGARow 20 - Cell 2
22Michael Gogl (Aut) Tinkoff Team0:00:09
23Tom Jelte Slagter (Ned) Cannondale-Drapac0:00:12
24Jorge Arcas Pena (Spa) Movistar Team0:00:19
25Ric Carapaz Montenegro (Ecu) Movistar TeamRow 24 - Cell 2
26Alessio Taliani (Ita) Androni Giocattoli - Sidermec0:00:21
27Enrico Barbin (Ita) Bardiani CSFRow 26 - Cell 2
28Jonathan Castroviejo (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 27 - Cell 2
29Kristijan Durasek (Cro) Lampre - Merida0:00:25
30David Arroyo (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA0:00:29
31Mattia Cattaneo (Ita) Lampre - MeridaRow 30 - Cell 2
32Damiano Cunego (Ita) Nippo - Vini FantiniRow 31 - Cell 2
33Fabio Felline (Ita) Trek-Segafredo0:00:36
34Damiano Caruso (Ita) BMC Racing Team0:00:40
35Stéphane Rossetto (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits0:01:02
36Toms Skujins (Lat) Cannondale-Drapac0:01:12
37Pieter Serry (Bel) Etixx - Quick-StepRow 36 - Cell 2
38Francesco Gavazzi (Ita) Androni Giocattoli - Sidermec0:01:23
39Simone Velasco (Ita) Bardiani CSF0:02:24
40Alexander Kolobnev (Rus) Gazprom-RusveloRow 39 - Cell 2
41Rémy Rochas (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 40 - Cell 2
42Andrea Fedi (Ita) Wilier Triestina-SoutheastRow 41 - Cell 2
43Lorenzo Fortunato (Ita) Tinkoff TeamRow 42 - Cell 2
44Eduard Prades (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA0:02:26
45Zhandos Bizhigitov (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamRow 44 - Cell 2
46Simone Ponzi (Ita) CCC Sprandi PolkowiceRow 45 - Cell 2
47Alberto Nardin (Ita) Androni Giocattoli - SidermecRow 46 - Cell 2
48Francisco Ventoso (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 47 - Cell 2
49Davide Ballerini (Ita) Tinkoff TeamRow 48 - Cell 2
50Lukasz Owsian (Pol) CCC Sprandi PolkowiceRow 49 - Cell 2
51Andrei Solomennikov (Rus) Gazprom-RusveloRow 50 - Cell 2
52Grega Bole (Slo) Nippo - Vini FantiniRow 51 - Cell 2
53Branislau Samoilau (Blr) CCC Sprandi PolkowiceRow 52 - Cell 2
54Michael Schär (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 53 - Cell 2
55Matteo Trentin (Ita) Etixx - Quick-StepRow 54 - Cell 2
56Jan Polanc (Slo) Lampre - MeridaRow 55 - Cell 2
57Matteo Bono (Ita) Lampre - MeridaRow 56 - Cell 2
58Pavel Kochetkov (Rus) Team KatushaRow 57 - Cell 2
59Victor De La Parte (Spa) CCC Sprandi PolkowiceRow 58 - Cell 2
60Matteo Montaguti (Ita) AG2R La MondialeRow 59 - Cell 2
61Andre Amador Bikkazakova (CRc) Movistar TeamRow 60 - Cell 2
62Mirco Maestri (Ita) Bardiani CSFRow 61 - Cell 2
63Carlos Betancur (Col) Movistar TeamRow 62 - Cell 2
64Philip Deignan (Irl) Team SkyRow 63 - Cell 2
65Arnold Jeannesson (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 64 - Cell 2
66Simone Consonni (Ita) ItalyRow 65 - Cell 2
67Filippo Ganna (Ita) ItalyRow 66 - Cell 2
68Eduard Michael Grosu (Rom) Nippo - Vini Fantini0:06:16
69Guillaume Bonnafond (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 68 - Cell 2
70Alessandro Vanotti (Ita) Astana Pro TeamRow 69 - Cell 2
71Brent Bookwalter (USA) BMC Racing TeamRow 70 - Cell 2
72Jean-Pierre Drucker (Lux) BMC Racing TeamRow 71 - Cell 2
73Rafae Andriato Demattos (Bra) Wilier Triestina-Southeast0:08:15
74Manuel Belletti (Ita) Wilier Triestina-SoutheastRow 73 - Cell 2
75Eugert Zhupa (Alb) Wilier Triestina-SoutheastRow 74 - Cell 2
76Paolo Simion (Ita) Bardiani CSFRow 75 - Cell 2
77Elia Viviani (Ita) Team SkyRow 76 - Cell 2
78Minali Riccardo (Ita) ItalyRow 77 - Cell 2
79Nicola Ruffoni (Ita) Bardiani CSFRow 78 - Cell 2
80Fabio Sabatini (Ita) Etixx - Quick-StepRow 79 - Cell 2
81Kristijan Koren (Slo) Cannondale-DrapacRow 80 - Cell 2
82Alan Marangoni (Ita) Cannondale-DrapacRow 81 - Cell 2
83Juraj Sagan (Svk) Tinkoff TeamRow 82 - Cell 2
84Daniele Ratto (Ita) Androni Giocattoli - SidermecRow 83 - Cell 2
85Marco Coledan (Ita) Trek-SegafredoRow 84 - Cell 2
86Ricardo Vilela (Por) Caja Rural-Seguros RGARow 85 - Cell 2
87Michael Bresciani (Ita) ItalyRow 86 - Cell 2
88Andre Cardoso (Por) Cannondale-DrapacRow 87 - Cell 2
89Matti Breschel (Den) Cannondale-DrapacRow 88 - Cell 2
90Axel Domont (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 89 - Cell 2
91Maximiliano Richeze (Arg) Etixx - Quick-StepRow 90 - Cell 2
92Angel Vicioso (Spa) Team KatushaRow 91 - Cell 2
93Alberto Losada (Spa) Team KatushaRow 92 - Cell 2
94Edoardo Affini (Ita) ItalyRow 93 - Cell 2
95Vasil Kiryienka (Blr) Team SkyRow 94 - Cell 2
96Sergio Pardilla (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGARow 95 - Cell 2
97Marcus Burghardt (Ger) BMC Racing Team0:08:36
98Jerome Cousin (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits0:16:38
99Anthony Perez (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 98 - Cell 2
100Manuele Boaro (Ita) Tinkoff TeamRow 99 - Cell 2
101Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Tinkoff TeamRow 100 - Cell 2
102Marco Bandiera (Ita) Androni Giocattoli - SidermecRow 101 - Cell 2
103Rick Zabel (Ger) BMC Racing TeamRow 102 - Cell 2
104Rui Costa (Por) Lampre - MeridaRow 103 - Cell 2
105Yonder Godoy (Ven) Wilier Triestina-SoutheastRow 104 - Cell 2
106Liam Bertazzo (Ita) Wilier Triestina-SoutheastRow 105 - Cell 2
107Sylwester Szmyd (Pol) CCC Sprandi PolkowiceRow 106 - Cell 2
108Artur Ershov (Rus) Gazprom-RusveloRow 107 - Cell 2
109Sergey Nikolaev (Rus) Gazprom-RusveloRow 108 - Cell 2
110Marcin Mrozek (Pol) CCC Sprandi PolkowiceRow 109 - Cell 2
111Roman Maikin (Rus) Gazprom-RusveloRow 110 - Cell 2
112Igor Boev (Rus) Gazprom-RusveloRow 111 - Cell 2
113Rein Taaramae (Est) Team KatushaRow 112 - Cell 2
114Egor Silin (Rus) Team KatushaRow 113 - Cell 2
115Dmitrii Kozonchuk (Rus) Team KatushaRow 114 - Cell 2
116Pello Bilbao (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGARow 115 - Cell 2
117Ian Stannard (GBr) Team SkyRow 116 - Cell 2
118Benoit Cosnefroy (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 117 - Cell 2
DNSAlexis Vuillermoz (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 118 - Cell 2
DNSJaime Roson (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGARow 119 - Cell 2
DNFFranco Pellizotti (Ita) Androni Giocattoli - SidermecRow 120 - Cell 2
DNFRodolfo Andres Torres (Col) Androni Giocattoli - SidermecRow 121 - Cell 2
DNFSerghei Tvetcov (Rom) Androni Giocattoli - SidermecRow 122 - Cell 2
DNFDiego Rosa (Ita) Astana Pro TeamRow 123 - Cell 2
DNFTanel Kangert (Est) Astana Pro TeamRow 124 - Cell 2
DNFNurbolat Kulimbetov (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamRow 125 - Cell 2
DNFMiguel Angel Lopez (Col) Astana Pro TeamRow 126 - Cell 2
DNFRuslan Tleubayev (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamRow 127 - Cell 2
DNFNicola Boem (Ita) Bardiani CSFRow 128 - Cell 2
DNFStefano Pirazzi (Ita) Bardiani CSFRow 129 - Cell 2
DNFFloris Gerts (Ned) BMC Racing TeamRow 130 - Cell 2
DNFAdrian Honkisz (Pol) CCC Sprandi PolkowiceRow 131 - Cell 2
DNFNicolas Edet (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 132 - Cell 2
DNFLaurens De Plus (Bel) Etixx - Quick-StepRow 133 - Cell 2
DNFRodrigo Contreras (Col) Etixx - Quick-StepRow 134 - Cell 2
DNFAlexander Serov (Rus) Gazprom-RusveloRow 135 - Cell 2
DNFEvgeny Shalunov (Rus) Gazprom-RusveloRow 136 - Cell 2
DNFSacha Modolo (Ita) Lampre - MeridaRow 137 - Cell 2
DNFYuma Koishi (Jpn) Nippo - Vini FantiniRow 138 - Cell 2
DNFPier Paolo De Negri (Ita) Nippo - Vini FantiniRow 139 - Cell 2
DNFIuri Filosi (Ita) Nippo - Vini FantiniRow 140 - Cell 2
DNFGenki Yamamoto (Jpn) Nippo - Vini FantiniRow 141 - Cell 2
DNFGianfranco Zilioli (Ita) Nippo - Vini FantiniRow 142 - Cell 2
DNFJoaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Team KatushaRow 143 - Cell 2
DNFMichal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Team SkyRow 144 - Cell 2
DNFDavid Lopez Garcia (Spa) Team SkyRow 145 - Cell 2
DNFSalvatore Puccio (Ita) Team SkyRow 146 - Cell 2
DNFErik Baska (Svk) Tinkoff TeamRow 147 - Cell 2
DNFJakub Mareczko (Ita) Wilier Triestina-SoutheastRow 148 - Cell 2
Barry Ryan
Head of Features

Barry Ryan was Head of Features at Cyclingnews. He has covered professional cycling since 2010, reporting from the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and events from Argentina to Japan. His writing has appeared in The Independent, Procycling and Cycling Plus. He is the author of The Ascent: Sean Kelly, Stephen Roche and the Rise of Irish Cycling’s Golden Generation, published by Gill Books.

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