Giacomo Nizzolo races to a strong 2nd place at Gent-Wevelgem
Wout Van Aert (Team Jumbo-Visma) won the 83rd edition of Gent-Wevelgem with Giacomo Nizzolo (Team Qhubeka ASSOS) taking 2nd and Matteo Trentin (UAE-Emirates) rounding out the podium.
The 247km Gent-Wevelgem got off to a blustery start, with strong winds blowing from the gun in Ypres. Initially 4 riders rode clear of the peloton, building a lead of over 9 minutes in the first 40km. However, with a change in route direction, there was a big attack in the peloton, in the crosswinds.
25 riders went clear with more than 180km to go! Giacomo Nizzolo was attentive as ever and made the front split for Team Qhubeka ASSOS. The early escapees were caught in no time at all and the lead group pressed on ahead of the chasing peloton.
The gap hovered between 30 - 50 seconds for what seemed like an eternity, as the riders battled the wind and hills in the Flanders fields. It was only really after the final ascent of the famous Kemmelberg, with 35km to go, that it seemed the Nizzolo's front group would go all the way.
The lead group had whittled down significantly though, leaving only the strongest 7 riders in the race to do battle in the final 15km, Nizzolo being one of them. Coming into the finale, Nizzolo was 7th wheel when the sprint launched and our Italian & European champ came from behind with speed, to pass all but Van Aert, who took a good win.
Giacomo Nizzolo - Team Qhubeka ASSOS
“It was a crazy race today with the bunch splitting really early. We found really collaboration among the front group from the beginning of the action. In the end it was a really hard race, and the legs were tired, so it was a strange sprint, with a tailwind. I decided to take the sprint from last position, I don’t know if it was the right decision but that’s what I did and I did my best, so I am happy. This is an important result for our team and the Qhubeka Charity. Bicycles change lives, and it is so important for us to bring this message to such an important race as today.”
