Italian flag enlightens 100th edition of GranPiemonte

Giacomo Nizzolo wins the 2016 GranPiemonte

As a member of the Italian national team, national champion Giacomo Nizzolo showed his great form ahead of the World Championship as he outsprinted Fernando Gaviria and Daniele Bennati to claim the 100th edition of GranPiemonte in Agliè. It was a very fast race with almost 100km covered in the first two hours. A 38-man front group rode a high tempo before France’s Stéphane Rossetto made a solo breakaway, only to be reined in with 3km to go.

FINAL RESULT

1 – Giacomo Nizzolo (Nazionale Italiana) – 207km in 4h25’21” average 46.806km/h
2 – Fernando Gaviria Rendon (Etixx – Quick Step) s.t.
3 – Daniele Bennati (Tinkoff) s.t.

Quotes form the winner

Race winner Giacomo Nizzolo said: “As I woke up feeling unwell, I told [national coach Davide] Cassani that I’d see on the way if I’d be able to race properly or not. But after the initial hill, I felt great in the group of 38. The finale was a pretty technical sprint. I didn’t know the finish so I was close to crashing in the last curve. I’m happy especially because of the great feelings I’ve experienced all the way today. I couldn’t ask for more in my last race before the Worlds. To win such a fast race against rivals of such a high level is fantastic. With the national champion jersey as a member of the national team it’s even better.”