Nizzolo wins Gran Piemonte
Trek-Segafredo rider beats Gaviria and Bennati in sprint
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
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
---|---|---|
1 | Giacomo Nizzolo (Ita) Trek-Segafredo | 4:25:21 |
2 | Fernando Gaviria (Col) Etixx - Quick-Step | Row 1 - Cell 2 |
3 | Daniele Bennati (Ita) Tinkoff Team | Row 2 - Cell 2 |
4 | Juan Jose Lobato (Spa) Movistar Team | Row 3 - Cell 2 |
5 | Sonny Colbrelli (Ita) Bardiani CSF | Row 4 - Cell 2 |
6 | Philippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC Racing Team | Row 5 - Cell 2 |
7 | Ben Swift (GBr) Team Sky | Row 6 - Cell 2 |
8 | Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Etixx - Quick-Step | Row 7 - Cell 2 |
9 | Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Wilier Triestina-Southeast | Row 8 - Cell 2 |
10 | Alberto Bettiol (Ita) Cannondale-Drapac | Row 9 - Cell 2 |
11 | Romain Hardy (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | Row 10 - Cell 2 |
12 | Manuele Mori (Ita) Lampre - Merida | Row 11 - Cell 2 |
13 | Kristoffer Skjerping (Nor) Cannondale-Drapac | Row 12 - Cell 2 |
14 | Jan Bakelants (Bel) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 13 - Cell 2 |
15 | Luis Angel Mate (Spa) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | Row 14 - Cell 2 |
16 | Maciej Paterski (Pol) CCC Sprandi Polkowice | Row 15 - Cell 2 |
17 | Angel Madrazo Ruiz (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA | Row 16 - Cell 2 |
18 | Simone Petilli (Ita) Lampre - Merida | Row 17 - Cell 2 |
19 | Tiago Machado (Por) Team Katusha | Row 18 - Cell 2 |
20 | Rudy Molard (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | 0:00:06 |
21 | Jon Irisarri Rincon (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA | Row 20 - Cell 2 |
22 | Michael Gogl (Aut) Tinkoff Team | 0:00:09 |
23 | Tom Jelte Slagter (Ned) Cannondale-Drapac | 0:00:12 |
24 | Jorge Arcas Pena (Spa) Movistar Team | 0:00:19 |
25 | Ric Carapaz Montenegro (Ecu) Movistar Team | Row 24 - Cell 2 |
26 | Alessio Taliani (Ita) Androni Giocattoli - Sidermec | 0:00:21 |
27 | Enrico Barbin (Ita) Bardiani CSF | Row 26 - Cell 2 |
28 | Jonathan Castroviejo (Spa) Movistar Team | Row 27 - Cell 2 |
29 | Kristijan Durasek (Cro) Lampre - Merida | 0:00:25 |
30 | David Arroyo (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA | 0:00:29 |
31 | Mattia Cattaneo (Ita) Lampre - Merida | Row 30 - Cell 2 |
32 | Damiano Cunego (Ita) Nippo - Vini Fantini | Row 31 - Cell 2 |
33 | Fabio Felline (Ita) Trek-Segafredo | 0:00:36 |
34 | Damiano Caruso (Ita) BMC Racing Team | 0:00:40 |
35 | Stéphane Rossetto (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | 0:01:02 |
36 | Toms Skujins (Lat) Cannondale-Drapac | 0:01:12 |
37 | Pieter Serry (Bel) Etixx - Quick-Step | Row 36 - Cell 2 |
38 | Francesco Gavazzi (Ita) Androni Giocattoli - Sidermec | 0:01:23 |
39 | Simone Velasco (Ita) Bardiani CSF | 0:02:24 |
40 | Alexander Kolobnev (Rus) Gazprom-Rusvelo | Row 39 - Cell 2 |
41 | Rémy Rochas (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 40 - Cell 2 |
42 | Andrea Fedi (Ita) Wilier Triestina-Southeast | Row 41 - Cell 2 |
43 | Lorenzo Fortunato (Ita) Tinkoff Team | Row 42 - Cell 2 |
44 | Eduard Prades (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA | 0:02:26 |
45 | Zhandos Bizhigitov (Kaz) Astana Pro Team | Row 44 - Cell 2 |
46 | Simone Ponzi (Ita) CCC Sprandi Polkowice | Row 45 - Cell 2 |
47 | Alberto Nardin (Ita) Androni Giocattoli - Sidermec | Row 46 - Cell 2 |
48 | Francisco Ventoso (Spa) Movistar Team | Row 47 - Cell 2 |
49 | Davide Ballerini (Ita) Tinkoff Team | Row 48 - Cell 2 |
50 | Lukasz Owsian (Pol) CCC Sprandi Polkowice | Row 49 - Cell 2 |
51 | Andrei Solomennikov (Rus) Gazprom-Rusvelo | Row 50 - Cell 2 |
52 | Grega Bole (Slo) Nippo - Vini Fantini | Row 51 - Cell 2 |
53 | Branislau Samoilau (Blr) CCC Sprandi Polkowice | Row 52 - Cell 2 |
54 | Michael Schär (Swi) BMC Racing Team | Row 53 - Cell 2 |
55 | Matteo Trentin (Ita) Etixx - Quick-Step | Row 54 - Cell 2 |
56 | Jan Polanc (Slo) Lampre - Merida | Row 55 - Cell 2 |
57 | Matteo Bono (Ita) Lampre - Merida | Row 56 - Cell 2 |
58 | Pavel Kochetkov (Rus) Team Katusha | Row 57 - Cell 2 |
59 | Victor De La Parte (Spa) CCC Sprandi Polkowice | Row 58 - Cell 2 |
60 | Matteo Montaguti (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 59 - Cell 2 |
61 | Andre Amador Bikkazakova (CRc) Movistar Team | Row 60 - Cell 2 |
62 | Mirco Maestri (Ita) Bardiani CSF | Row 61 - Cell 2 |
63 | Carlos Betancur (Col) Movistar Team | Row 62 - Cell 2 |
64 | Philip Deignan (Irl) Team Sky | Row 63 - Cell 2 |
65 | Arnold Jeannesson (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | Row 64 - Cell 2 |
66 | Simone Consonni (Ita) Italy | Row 65 - Cell 2 |
67 | Filippo Ganna (Ita) Italy | Row 66 - Cell 2 |
68 | Eduard Michael Grosu (Rom) Nippo - Vini Fantini | 0:06:16 |
69 | Guillaume Bonnafond (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 68 - Cell 2 |
70 | Alessandro Vanotti (Ita) Astana Pro Team | Row 69 - Cell 2 |
71 | Brent Bookwalter (USA) BMC Racing Team | Row 70 - Cell 2 |
72 | Jean-Pierre Drucker (Lux) BMC Racing Team | Row 71 - Cell 2 |
73 | Rafae Andriato Demattos (Bra) Wilier Triestina-Southeast | 0:08:15 |
74 | Manuel Belletti (Ita) Wilier Triestina-Southeast | Row 73 - Cell 2 |
75 | Eugert Zhupa (Alb) Wilier Triestina-Southeast | Row 74 - Cell 2 |
76 | Paolo Simion (Ita) Bardiani CSF | Row 75 - Cell 2 |
77 | Elia Viviani (Ita) Team Sky | Row 76 - Cell 2 |
78 | Minali Riccardo (Ita) Italy | Row 77 - Cell 2 |
79 | Nicola Ruffoni (Ita) Bardiani CSF | Row 78 - Cell 2 |
80 | Fabio Sabatini (Ita) Etixx - Quick-Step | Row 79 - Cell 2 |
81 | Kristijan Koren (Slo) Cannondale-Drapac | Row 80 - Cell 2 |
82 | Alan Marangoni (Ita) Cannondale-Drapac | Row 81 - Cell 2 |
83 | Juraj Sagan (Svk) Tinkoff Team | Row 82 - Cell 2 |
84 | Daniele Ratto (Ita) Androni Giocattoli - Sidermec | Row 83 - Cell 2 |
85 | Marco Coledan (Ita) Trek-Segafredo | Row 84 - Cell 2 |
86 | Ricardo Vilela (Por) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA | Row 85 - Cell 2 |
87 | Michael Bresciani (Ita) Italy | Row 86 - Cell 2 |
88 | Andre Cardoso (Por) Cannondale-Drapac | Row 87 - Cell 2 |
89 | Matti Breschel (Den) Cannondale-Drapac | Row 88 - Cell 2 |
90 | Axel Domont (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 89 - Cell 2 |
91 | Maximiliano Richeze (Arg) Etixx - Quick-Step | Row 90 - Cell 2 |
92 | Angel Vicioso (Spa) Team Katusha | Row 91 - Cell 2 |
93 | Alberto Losada (Spa) Team Katusha | Row 92 - Cell 2 |
94 | Edoardo Affini (Ita) Italy | Row 93 - Cell 2 |
95 | Vasil Kiryienka (Blr) Team Sky | Row 94 - Cell 2 |
96 | Sergio Pardilla (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA | Row 95 - Cell 2 |
97 | Marcus Burghardt (Ger) BMC Racing Team | 0:08:36 |
98 | Jerome Cousin (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | 0:16:38 |
99 | Anthony Perez (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | Row 98 - Cell 2 |
100 | Manuele Boaro (Ita) Tinkoff Team | Row 99 - Cell 2 |
101 | Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Tinkoff Team | Row 100 - Cell 2 |
102 | Marco Bandiera (Ita) Androni Giocattoli - Sidermec | Row 101 - Cell 2 |
103 | Rick Zabel (Ger) BMC Racing Team | Row 102 - Cell 2 |
104 | Rui Costa (Por) Lampre - Merida | Row 103 - Cell 2 |
105 | Yonder Godoy (Ven) Wilier Triestina-Southeast | Row 104 - Cell 2 |
106 | Liam Bertazzo (Ita) Wilier Triestina-Southeast | Row 105 - Cell 2 |
107 | Sylwester Szmyd (Pol) CCC Sprandi Polkowice | Row 106 - Cell 2 |
108 | Artur Ershov (Rus) Gazprom-Rusvelo | Row 107 - Cell 2 |
109 | Sergey Nikolaev (Rus) Gazprom-Rusvelo | Row 108 - Cell 2 |
110 | Marcin Mrozek (Pol) CCC Sprandi Polkowice | Row 109 - Cell 2 |
111 | Roman Maikin (Rus) Gazprom-Rusvelo | Row 110 - Cell 2 |
112 | Igor Boev (Rus) Gazprom-Rusvelo | Row 111 - Cell 2 |
113 | Rein Taaramae (Est) Team Katusha | Row 112 - Cell 2 |
114 | Egor Silin (Rus) Team Katusha | Row 113 - Cell 2 |
115 | Dmitrii Kozonchuk (Rus) Team Katusha | Row 114 - Cell 2 |
116 | Pello Bilbao (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA | Row 115 - Cell 2 |
117 | Ian Stannard (GBr) Team Sky | Row 116 - Cell 2 |
118 | Benoit Cosnefroy (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 117 - Cell 2 |
DNS | Alexis Vuillermoz (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 118 - Cell 2 |
DNS | Jaime Roson (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA | Row 119 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Androni Giocattoli - Sidermec | Row 120 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Rodolfo Andres Torres (Col) Androni Giocattoli - Sidermec | Row 121 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Serghei Tvetcov (Rom) Androni Giocattoli - Sidermec | Row 122 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Diego Rosa (Ita) Astana Pro Team | Row 123 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Tanel Kangert (Est) Astana Pro Team | Row 124 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Nurbolat Kulimbetov (Kaz) Astana Pro Team | Row 125 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Miguel Angel Lopez (Col) Astana Pro Team | Row 126 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Ruslan Tleubayev (Kaz) Astana Pro Team | Row 127 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Nicola Boem (Ita) Bardiani CSF | Row 128 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Stefano Pirazzi (Ita) Bardiani CSF | Row 129 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Floris Gerts (Ned) BMC Racing Team | Row 130 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Adrian Honkisz (Pol) CCC Sprandi Polkowice | Row 131 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Nicolas Edet (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | Row 132 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Laurens De Plus (Bel) Etixx - Quick-Step | Row 133 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Rodrigo Contreras (Col) Etixx - Quick-Step | Row 134 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Alexander Serov (Rus) Gazprom-Rusvelo | Row 135 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Evgeny Shalunov (Rus) Gazprom-Rusvelo | Row 136 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Sacha Modolo (Ita) Lampre - Merida | Row 137 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Yuma Koishi (Jpn) Nippo - Vini Fantini | Row 138 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Pier Paolo De Negri (Ita) Nippo - Vini Fantini | Row 139 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Iuri Filosi (Ita) Nippo - Vini Fantini | Row 140 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Genki Yamamoto (Jpn) Nippo - Vini Fantini | Row 141 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Gianfranco Zilioli (Ita) Nippo - Vini Fantini | Row 142 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Team Katusha | Row 143 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Team Sky | Row 144 - Cell 2 |
DNF | David Lopez Garcia (Spa) Team Sky | Row 145 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Salvatore Puccio (Ita) Team Sky | Row 146 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Erik Baska (Svk) Tinkoff Team | Row 147 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Jakub Mareczko (Ita) Wilier Triestina-Southeast | Row 148 - Cell 2 |
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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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