Radioshack's talented sprinter Giacomo Nizzolo has been right in the mix whenever there has been in the Giro d'Italia but in today's 13th stage he was closer than ever. Having survived the hard climbs in the final part of the race's longest stage he sprinted to second behind Mark Cavendish (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) and he even believes that he could have been the man to break the Manxman's run of success, had he not hesitated in the finale.

For the first time ever Radioshack's young Giacomo Nizzolo has started a grand tour as his team's preferred sprinter and he has delivered the goods right from the beginning. A 4th place on the opening day in Naples was followed by an 8th place in Margherita di Savoia and a 4th placce in yesterday's rain-soaked sprint in Treviso.

However, his most beautiful performance came in today's stage, the longest of the entire Giro. The Italian was seen struggling at the back of the day's only categorized climb with around 40km to go and he even briefly lost contact with the field. Nelson Oliveira and Hayden Roulston brought him backed and from then on he was able to stay in the main bunch over the final ascents.

He managed to position himself perfectly in the wheel of Elia Viviani who was delivered perfectly to the line by his Cannondale team. Cavendish came from behind and despite a very fast finish by the Italian he had to settle for 2nd behind the invincible Brit.

What could be seen as a breakthrough result for the young Italian was instead the source of disappointment. A hesitation had seen Cavendish pass him and he was sure that an earlier sprint could have delivered him the win.

“I’m hoping I can put my disappointment to good use," he said. "I felt like today might be the day with such a long stage.  I am disappointed with second place.  I made one mistake where I was in the wheel of Viviani and Cavendish was behind me.  I started my sprint but for some reason, and I can’t even tell you why, I hesitated for one split second and that’s when Cavendish took a bike length from me and I couldn’t get it back.  That hesitation lost the race for me.” 

The team's main objective in the Giro is the GC ambitions of Robert Kiserlovski but with Nizzolo mixing it up with the best in the sprints the team will now also give the sprints more importance.

“It was very close today for Giacomo," he said. "The team stayed around him the entire time today, saving him for the sprint.  He has been fourth two-times and now has taken a second place.  We are going to keep trying.  We take away good confidence from today and the other stages too.  On every flat stage he will have our support.”

Nizzolo will have to bide his times over the weekend as the Giro prepares itself for a big GC battle in the Alps. While the Italian will try to survive the mountains, it is left to Kiserlovski to fly the Radioshack flag.

Starting at 14.15, you can follow the first of those big stages on CyclingQuotes.com/live.