With a clear runway to the looming white line, he could smell victory. But suddenly, a handful of meters before the line, Matteo Pelucchi (IAM Cycling) appeared on his left with momentum – a few powerful pedal strokes, one bike throw, and a millisecond later the win was snatched from Nizzolo’s grasp.

Second again.

Pelucchi had done what seemed impossible moments earlier, but a closed door abruptly opened, and like a horse smelling the barn door he bolted. His wheel crossed inches ahead of Nizzolo’s, giving the IAM Cycling rider his second victory of the race and leaving Trek Factory Racing’s fastman wondering what he needs to do for ‘lady luck’ to smile his way.

“Giacomo is really disappointed, it was centimeters, and someone said that if he didn’t move off his line and open the road to Pelucchi, he wouldn’t have passed him,” said Trek Factory Racing’s director Adriano Baffi. “I have not seen the sprint, we do not have tv, and I have not talked with him yet as he is very, very upset. 

“On my side, I am happy to see that we were there again, all the riders did a great job, we were in the race, so for me it was quite a good. Of course for Giacomo it’s better to be third or fifth instead of second by a few centimeters. It’s true that Giacomo deserved [the win], but that’s life.”

It was another characteristic sprint stage for the third straight day at the Tour of Poland as a six-man breakaway formed early, built a lead, and then was policed tightly by the teams with inklings for a stage victory.

Giant-Alpecin did the bulk of the work with duo ambitions of protecting the yellow jersey and an eye on another victory for Marcel Kittel and the escapees never gained more than three minutes’ lead.

Similar to stage two, Jesse Sergent was the early workhorse for Trek Factory Racing, lending his power to keep the breakaway – down to four men with 64 kilometers remaining – well regulated. 

The last holdout from the day’s breakaway was swept up six kilometers from the finish, and Trek Factory Racing moved to the front to battle the other sprinters’ teams for supremacy.

All played to tune; even a late attack under the one kilometer to go banner that momentarily created a small split was covered by an attentive Nizzolo. His positioning was impeccable. But chance, this time, played into Pelucchi’s hands, leaving Nizzolo a bitter pill to swallow as runner-up: a sprinter never likes to lose, and second is often the worst place to be, but mercifully in a stage race, and in the long season of pro bicycle racing, there will always be another opportunity.

“Tomorrow is another day like today, and I think that the climbs in tomorrow’s stage Giacomo can pass. Like always, we will try again,” ended Baffi.