Davide Appollonio got very close to his first win since 2011 when he won the sprint for second behind Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) who narrowly held off the small peloton in today's Roma Maxima. The Italian blamed the lost opportunity on the lack of radios that had made it impossible to communicate with Domenico Pozzovivo in the front duo and his own lack of self-confidence.

Less than two months ago, Davide Appollonio was on the ground in the Tour de San Luis with a broken collarbone and the fast Italian had to put a temporary halt to what had been a promising start to his season. Today he proved his quick return to form when he finished 2nd behind Alejandro Valverde in the Roma Maxima.

Despite the impressive comeback, however, Appollonio was hugely disappointed at the finish. According to the Italian, the race been lost due to team tactics and not a lack of sprinting power.

Appollonio's teammate Domenico Pozzovivo had escaped on the final climb with Valverde and the pair worked well together to keep the peloton at bay. Behind, Appollonio was one of the very few sprinters who had survived the tough climbing in the main peloton and in an impressive show of strength, his entire team - with the exception of early ecapee Ben Gastauer - had made the selection.

This had left him with lots of firepower to reel in the front duo but he was unable to ask his teammate Pozzovivo to stop cooperating in the front duo.

"I had so many men at my disposal, but I also Pozzovivo in the front group," he told Spaziociclismo."Unfortunately, we do not have radios and Domenico did not know that I was behind and so has cooperated with Valverde . Surely if he knew the situation, he would not have helped him. Unfortunately, it takes very little to win and it takes very little to lose in a race like this."

Appollonio also blamed the lost opportunity on his own lack of self-confidence.

"I can see that the legs are getting better and I think they will get even better in the next races," he said. "If today I had had more confidence, I could have had the whole team ride for me , but I was not sure to get over the climbs. You can only take responsibility when you feel confident and I don't yet.

"I had good legs today and I felt it from the start. This is a beautiful second place but I didn't get the win and there is always disappointment. Even if it is good for the morale and the rest of the season, I would obviously have preferred to win for me and the team."