Sonny Colbrelli is still trying desperately to get that elusive first professional win and this season he has been agonizingly close on an amazing number on occasions. Today he took his 12th top 6 finish in 2014 when he was beaten into second by Moreno Hofland at the Volta Limburg Classic but this time he admitted that he had been up against a faster rider.

If one rider deserves a prize for consistency in the 2014 season, it has to be Sonny Colbrelli from Bardini. In his third full season with the Italian team, the 23-year-old has managed to finish in the top 6 no less than 12 times.

However, the elusive first professional win has always escaped the fast Italian and today he again came close to breaking the drought. In the Volta Limburg Classic he found a hilly course that suited him down to the ground and he set off with the intention on improving on his second place from last year's edition.

His team showed great commitment to their fast finisher when they controlled the early three-man brea before going on the attack to put the pure sprinters under pressure. Nicola Boem made it into a dangerous 7-rider move that was only brought back inside the final 10km and then it was time for Marco Canola to take off in a promising solo move that the peloton could only neutralize 1.5km from the finish.

In the end it all came down to a sprint finish from a reduced peloton and Colbrelli found himself in the perfect position. However, luck is still not on his side as he had to settle for a second consecutive runner-up spot in the race.

Despite again missing out on the win, there was a sense of satisfaction in the Italian camp as Colbrelli admitted that the win was beyond his reach.

”I knew the finish and how to do the sprint, but Hofland proved to be the strongest today," he said. "I took his wheel in the last 200 meters, then with 50 to go I tried to pass him but he was too fast.

"It’s a pity because last year I was also 2nd and today I wanted win. Anyway I have no regrets I gave it my all and my teammates did too as they were all very strong."

”Afrer De Panne I wanted a reaction from the guys and I can say that it happened today," sports director Mirko Rossato said. "I think that Sonny took the best possible result, because watching the sprint Hofland was stronger.

"All the team was great, they managed the race since the start. We sent Boem on attack with 45km to go and in the finale Canola tried to win with a solo attack. Okay, we didn't win but I am happy with squad’s attitude today."