NIZZOLO CHARGES TO VICTORY IN STAGE 2 OF PARIS-NICE
Giacomo Nizzolo powered to victory on stage 2 of Paris-Nice ahead of Pascal Ackermann (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Jasper Stuyven (Trek-Segafredo), to secure his second WorldTour victory of 2020 for NTT Pro Cycling.
As expected, the second stage of 165.5km from Chevreuse to Châlette-sur-Loing saw cross-winds play a crucial role in the final 32 kilometres and the in-form Italian made his move, joining a reduced group of eleven riders that found themselves out in front for the final 10km.
Together with Nizzolo, the group included recent winner of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Jasper Stuyven, three riders from Bora-Hansgrohe including Peter Sagan and Nils Politt from Israel Start-Up Nation.
Nizzolo timed his sprint perfectly, to storm to the line in the final 100m to the delight of his teammates and support staff.
That result sees him sit second on the general classification, 15 seconds behind race leader Maximilian Schachmann (Bora-Hansgrohe).
Meanwhile the victory is the second at WorldTour level for Nizzolo in 2020 following his victory on stage 5 of the Santos Tour Down Under in January. Meanwhile it also follows on from the team securing stage wins at the Tour de Langkawi and Etoile de Besseges, as well as clinching the South African road race title with Ryan Gibbons.
Giacomo Nizzolo
"Obviously to be in front was crucial and I was there, waiting for the moment to jump across and I had good legs so I could wait for the right moment without taking too many risks. So when that moment came I just went full gas and luckily I could get there so.
"Of course after the victory at the Tour Down Under earlier this year my condition I felt was good and I had several good results; but of course to win is something completely different and a stage at Paris-Nice is nice for me, and the team as well. As you know we also ride for something more, we have Qhubeka on our side, so this is something special for them too."
About NTT Pro Cycling
Founded in 2007, NTT Pro Cycling (formerly Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka) became the first-ever African cycling team to gain a WorldTour license, in 2016. With the support of our headline sponsor and technology innovation partner, NTT, we are the most purpose-driven, performance-led, and technology-enabled team in pro cycling today.
Our ambition is to continue to race at the highest levels in world cycling, to develop riders to realise their full potential and to inspire and motivate people across the African continent to ride bicycles.
We have bases in South Africa, Denmark, the Netherlands and Italy.
We also ride to raise awareness for Qhubeka, a global charity operating in South Africa, through our #BicyclesChangeLives campaign.
The hands on the back of the team race jersey are a reminder that every Qhubeka bicycle is a helping hand up to a beneficiary, which are provided through Qhubeka's learn-to-earn and work-to-earn programmes
About Qhubeka
Qhubeka is a charity that moves people forward with bicycles. People earn bicycles through our programmes, improving their access to schools, clinics and jobs.
A bicycle is a tool that helps people to travel faster and further, and to carry more. In the face of extreme and persistent poverty, bicycles can change lives by helping to address socioeconomic challenges at the most basic level – helping people to get where they need to go.
About NTT Ltd.
NTT Ltd. is a global technology services company bringing together the expertise of leaders in the field, including NTT Communications, Dimension Data and NTT Security. We partner with organizations around the world to shape and achieve outcomes through intelligent technology solutions. For us, intelligent means data driven, connected, digital and secure. As a global ICT provider, we employ more than 40,000 people in a diverse and dynamic workplace and deliver services in over 200 countries and regions. Together we enable the connected future.
Visit us at our new website hello.global.ntt
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