Giacomo Nizzolo

After the white paths of the Strade Bianche, the cobblestones of Paris-Roubaix and before the vineyard paths of Paris-Tours, fans of spectacular races are impatiently awaiting the 'Ribins' (stone paths) of the Tro Bro Léon. The 204 kilometers of the Breton event were tough and allowed 7 men to compete for victory in the sprint at Lannilis. Arnaud De Lie, winner yesterday and particularly in legs, is untenable in the last 30 kms, but is blown up on the line by Giacomo Nizzolo. The Italian cyclist from Israel-Premier Tech offers the first success of the season to his formation. The Celtic country is doing quite well for Giacomo, who won the title of European Champion in Plouay in 2020. Photo credit: Mathilde L'azou

Giacomo Nizzolo won the Circuito de Gexto – Memorial Hermanos Otxoa, sprinting to the victory from a small breakaway group. Giovanni Aleotti (Bora-Hansgrohe) finished 2nd and Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain-Victorious) was 3rd. The UCI 1.1 Circuito de Gexto saw riders take on 6 laps of an undulating circuit between Bilbao and Gexto, before completing a larger finishing circuit that included the the tough final climb of Pike Bidea, for a total race distance of 194km. Team Qhubeka NextHash had last year’s second place finisher, Giacomo Nizzolo, targeting the top step of the podium today and so our South African UCI World Tour team rallied around the European champion throughout the race. The race got off to a very fast start with numerous attacks and the pace was so high that it took almost 90km before any break finally got a significant gap. 11 strong riders had gone off the front and so Team Qhubeka NextHash, together with Caja-Rural and Bora-Hansgrohe took up the chase. With around 55km to go, the pressure was really on to bring the leaders back and as a result, there was a split at the head of the peloton as 12 riders went off in pursuit of the early leaders. Team Qhubeka NextHash had both Nizzolo and Carlos Barbero in this select chase group. Barbero would go on to play a pivotal support role for Nizzolo, all the way up to the final climb of Pike Bidea at 15km to go, as he worked hard to ensure the breakaway was caught before the climb. On the climb it was then up to Nizzolo to try and follow the climbers as they began attacking on the steep slopes. The Italian sprinter held his own and did a fantastic climb, to summit in 5th place, just 15″ behind the front rid...

Giacomo Nizzolo sprinted to his first grand tour stage win on stage 13 of the Giro d'Italia. The Qhubeka ASSOS team sprinter broke his record of 19 podiums without a win by taking the top step in Verona today. Starting in Ravenna, the stage took place on a mostly flat 198km course to end in a bunch sprint in Verona. Italian and European champion Nizzolo, who has already placed second twice at this year's Giro d'Italia, was determined not to be outdone once again. The QMT team was not to be outdone The Qhubeka ASSOS team took over the peloton in the final 10 kilometers, keeping Nizzolo in the lead and out of danger in the tough final kilometers. A committed team effort gave Nizzolo the opportunity to sprint for the win today. After Mauro Schmid's incredible triumph on stage 11 of the Giro d'Italia, this is the 2nd stage win for the Qhubeka ASSOS team at this year's Giro. With other top 10 stage finishes for Max Walscheid and Victor Campenearts, and Nizzolo wearing the Maglia Ciclamino in the opening week, this is without a doubt the most successful Giro d'Italia for the Qhubeka ASSOS team.

4th stage victory of his career on the Giro for Caleb Ewan, who wins the 5th stage of the 2021 edition. Caleb Ewan won the 5th stage of the Tour of Italy with a powerful sprint. At the end of this stage promised to the sprinters, the 26-year-old Australian won ahead of Italians Nizzolo and Viviani. This marks Caleb Ewan's fourth stage victory of his career at the Giro, four years to the day after his very first Giro d'Italia victory.

The Qhubeka Assos and Cofidis teams worked hard by being part of the great leaders of the outcome of this 2nd stage. By finishing 2nd and 3rd, Giacomo Nizzolo and Elia Viviani demonstrate their good shape !

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 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.

The reigning European and Italian champion Giacomo Nizzolo will spearhead Team Qhubeka ASSOS' hopes at Milan-Sanremo on Saturday. For Africa's WorldTour team this race is particularly poignant with Gerald Ciolek's 2013 victory, in epic conditions, catapulting the team onto the global stage. Nizzolo finished an excellent fifth at La Classicissima (sic) in 2020 and will be hoping for a repeat of a similar level of performance this Saturday, on a day of racing that will cover 299km. Giacomo Nizzolo Preparation for Sanremo this year has been good but it hasn't been perfect because I had a few issues a month ago so that for sure could have made things a bit better. Besides that I feel like I'm improving, getting better and I feel a step higher than two weeks ago, so I'm confident. Last year's race was special because of being in August but also for me personally it was the first time I started in Milan with good, actually perfect, condition. In some of the previous years I'd always had some problems but last year I can say that I was well set for Sanremo and I felt very good in that period. It was also nice for myself that I proved that I could be there playing for a good result, when I'm in shape. The goal or dream is of course always to win. Realistically if the race takes a good turn for the sprinters then I believe that I can be there to play for a good result, and in a sprint you never know what can happen. But the first thing is to feel good all day long and be there when the race is decided, and hopefully I can sprint in the front group. I'm super-proud to wear the European and Italian champion jersey. For me it's an extra motivation of course and I also feel an...

Giacomo Nizzolo won the Clasica de Almeria in a fantastic sprint final, the first victory of the season for the Italian and European champion and the Qhubeka Assos team. The 183 km of the Clasica de Almeria took place Sunday February 14 under a magnificent blue sky of Spain. A peloton of 154 riders started from Pueblo de Vicar to finish in Rocquetas de Mar. The Qhubeka ASSOS team came out in force, with Giacomo Nizzolo leading the group of 7 riders which also included Max Walscheid, Victor Campenaerts, Matteo Pelucchi, Carlos Barbero, Emil Vinjebo and Sean Bennett. Most of the climb was done in the first 100 kilometers, followed by a flatter final of 80 km, the race was to end logically with a sprint of the peloton. It was a nervous race to the finish line and the fight for victory resulted in many crashes, steadily dividing and reducing the field. After being protected by his teammates, Nizzolo reached the well placed last kilometer. With authority, the Italian clinched his first success of the season on his first appearance.