A few weeks ago, Nicola Ruffoni proved his great talent when he beat Mark Cavendish to win a stage of the Tour du Poitou-Charentes. Yesterday he repeated that feat when he finished second in the first stage of the Tour of Britain after almost passing Marcel Kittel before the line.

In the Tour du Poitour-Charentes, Nicola Ruffoni proved that he is a future top sprinter when he beat Mark Cavendish to win a stage. Yesterday he almost beat another giant when he finished second behind Marcel Kittel in the first stage of the Tour of Britain.

”This 2nd place means a lot because the two strongest sprinters in the world are here," he said. "My teammates were really strong to bring me onto Kittel's wheel and then it was my time to do my effort. I was able to keep Kittel’s wheel when Cavendish’s train arrived and then had some power to try to win. But there were not enough metres to pass Kittel and he was so fast. Anyway I’m really happy with this podium and now I aim to confirm in the next bunch sprint."

His teammate Sonny Colbrelli was part of the early break and took the sprints jersey by winning all intermediate sprints.

”We raced really well today, all the guys have respected what we planned during the morning briefing," sports director Roberto Reverberi said. "The idea to send Colbreli in the early breakaway was because he could get some decisive seconds and tomorrow with a stage really good for him, he could take the leader's jersey.

"In the final bunch sprint, Ruffoni made another oustanding performance after last week's winning sprint in France. He’s a neo-pro but he’s already showing a huge potential. Now as a team, we have to continue in this way because we have the possibility to be a protagonist every day."