For the third time in this year's Giro d'Italia, Giacomo Nizzolo (Trek) was beaten into third by Nacer Bouhanni when the 10th stage came down to the expected bunch sprint. The Italian had shown excellent condition on the late climb and had hoped that the ascent would have tired his faster rival.

He is, if nothing else, consistent to a fault.   

But that is not what Giacomo Nizzolo, or the team, wanted. With already a third and a pair of second place finishes under his belt ahead of today’s flat 173-kilometer stage, another second place was not required.

Once again Trek Factory Racing showed superb teamwork in setting Nizzolo up for the sprint, but once again Nacer Bouhanni (FDJ.fr) spoiled the party.

“I hoped that the climb [at the end] would take something from the legs of Bouhanni and that he would arrive more tired than me. We went full gas on the climb and I went over around 10th position," he said. "I was feeling pretty good and I hoped that today was my day.

"In the end when I saw him arrive in the last kilometer, I realized that again it would be a battle between us, and, okay, he won again, but I have to be happy that I was there to fight. Being second three times is not bad. We can take something positive from that.”

Two riders bid adieu in the opening kilometers of the mostly flat stage and set off on a long, lonely and fated flight. Trek Factory Racing employed Riccardo Zoidl to assist in the chase, and the inevitable catch was timed perfectly to the final nine kilometers.

Once the two escapees were back in the fold Trek Factory Racing waited and moved to the front with three kilometers to go. Taking over the driver’s seat they pushed the accelerator to keep Nizzolo protected at the front.

Just before the final corner, less than 300 meters from the line, a crash in the front positions stalled most of the peloton, however, Nizzolo sat in fifth wheel, safely ahead of the carnage.

Taking initiative, Nizzolo launched the sprint first and hugged the inside barriers in a perfect line. However, Nacer Bouhanni (FDJ.fr), tight to Nizzolo’s wheel, saluted this ideal lead out by springing around Nizzolo meters before the line for his third stage win of this year’s Giro.  Michael Matthews (Orica GreenEdge) was third.     

“I tried the same tactic as last time by trying to anticipate [Bouhanni]. Today I really believed it would work as I saw the finish line in front of me and we were not next to each other – I was leading – but in the last meters he passed me and the dream was over.

“I slowed a little bit at the end because the sprint was too long for me. But the best way to try and beat him was to start before him and gain some meters. I tried, but it didn’t work. So the only thing we can do is to try again.”