Giacomo Nizzolo was made to work extra hard for his first win of the year, fighting back from a puncture at a crucial point, but nothing could stop the flying Italian from taking the victory at To-Bro Léon, marking the first of the season for Israel – Premier Tech.
It was a day of attrition, with the classic farm lanes of Brittany throwing in some chaos, but the team worked together well to ensure that, despite suffering a mechanical with eight sectors to go, Giacomo was well positioned for the finale. Talking about his race, Giacomo was delighted with his win.
“Today was a very, very special race. I had to ride all day on the front, but the team worked to keep me in a good position until the race exploded with around seventy kilometers to go, and then there were only thirty of us. I was unlucky to get a puncture with thirty kilometers to go, so I had to make a big effort to get back, and then I was dropped in a decisive sector, but managed to come back again. I really had to suffer today to get the victory, but I’m super happy because when it comes after such an effort it feels even better! Thanks to the team for all their hard work, and let’s enjoy this first victory of the season!”
Sport Director, Rene Mandri, who has now taken his first victory for the team in a DS role, was delighted with Giacomo’s performance.
“It was a great win by Giacomo, the team did a brilliant job to get in the right position on all the sectors. From sector nine, the race was full gas. Giacomo had bad luck with a puncture with around eight sectors to go, but he had really good legs and managed to get back. He was in a sprint with seven other riders, and only had to focus on beating De Lie from Lotto Dstny, and he got it on the line with a photo finish. It was a really great job by Giacomo and the whole team.”
Talking about the impact of this win for Israel-Premier Tech, Mandri hopes that this win will inspire the riders at the Giro d’Italia.
“For sure it’s super good news for the team, as it’s our first victory of the year, and it’s the most important gravel race in France, so it’s a really good win. I hope it shows a great example for the whole team now, and the guys at the Giro will have this positive mindset from his win.”
