Less than two weeks after being relegated in the final stage of the Giro d’Italia, Giacomo Nizzolo (Trek) finally got his elusive victory when he came out on top in Switzerland’s biggest one-day race, GP Kanton Aargau Gippingen. After his Trek teammates had worked hard to bring back a strong 14-rider break, the Italian was the fastest in the uphill sprint, holding off Andrea Pasqualon (Roth) and David Tanner (IAM) to take the biggest one-day win of his career.

 

We have gathered several reactions.

 

Victorious Giacomo Nizzolo: I thought it was over

Giacomo Nizzolo capitalized on a strong Trek-Segafredo team that kept a tight rein on a dangerous 14-man escape group to win the GP des Kantons Aargau, Thursday.

 

The large breakaway escaped early in the 188.7-kilometer race comprised of 10 local circuits, and Trek-Segafredo took the initiative to lead the chase, keeping the leaders within two minutes until more teams came to the fore to help in the latter stages.

 

"It was very fast from the start with 14 up the road," explained Nizzolo. "We took responsibility, and all the guys pulled. The team did a fantastic job for me today; I have to give them a big thanks."

 

The breakaway was tagged back on the final lap, and an attentive Nizzolo – with only one teammate, Kiel Reijnen, remaining in the race – quickly marked a counterattack on the key climb of the circuit, joining an eight-man breakaway.

 

"In the last two laps the speed was even higher," Nizzolo continued. "When the break was caught on the last lap, I went with the counter on the climb, but the bunch came back with five or six kilometers to go."

 

Nizzolo, still carrying his strong form from the Giro d'Italia, still had an ace up his sleeve; he weaseled back into position for the final sprint and was able to outkick the bunch in the tough uphill finish (500 meters at 4-5%).

 

Nizzolo said: "When we were caught I moved up again, and I still had power left for the uphill sprint. I am happy, we came here for the win, and we managed to do it. This is a team victory - all the guys did a great job all day."

 

"Of course it was not the plan,” he told Cyclismactu. “14 riders, it was not an easy situation to manage. But in the end, we took our responsibilities and we started to chase until one lap remained. I have to say a big thank you to the team. Today they did an amazing job and, in the end, it paid off.

 

”It was not an easy race because the pace was high, with 14 riders in the front, good riders. Of course, the speed was too high. In the end, at the summit of the last climb, I was on the attack with 8 riders and when the peloton came back, I thought it was over. From that moment, I just tried to do as well as possible. And then, luckily, I had a lot of power in the sprint.

 

”On the last climb, I struggled to get back. I had to recover as best I could. The guys worked well. I was, I believe, in 8th position. When I found my rhythm, I made my sprint, and in the end, it worked! I sprinted for about 200 meters. But it seemed very long.

 

”Of course, this is a good race for my palmares. I really like this race. I did for the first time last year. I particularly appreciate when there are very short laps to do. Today was a good test for me. After the Giro, I knew the shape was good. But at the end of the Giro, I did not know how I felt. Fortunately, it was good. I'm really happy because I like this race. I hope to return next year. "

 

In-form Andrea Pasqualon targets Tour de Suisse after second place in Gippingen

"For me, it's ok,” Andrea Pasqualon told Cyclismactu. “It's a beautiful podium, the second of the year. It is special because it is the country of my team, Roth. I am happy, not very happy, but happy.

 

”Yes, the most important race is the Tour de Suisse. Today was difficult for me. The condition is good. I am now concentrating on the Tour de Suisse. For my team, this is good. This is another possibility.

 

”I have seen the stages. The first is a prologue, then the first road stage is good for me. The stages are difficult, but not very difficult. The second part of the Tour of Switzerland is more difficult, with climbs. For me that is too difficult.”

 

Strong David Tanner back on track with third place in Gippingen

 “This was a great day for the team,” David Tanner said after the race.  “We were represented at the front of the race with Larry Warbasse in the break, and he was really strong today, since that was hardly an easy break to make.  And then when it came to the finale, really every member of the team worked perfectly for me.  I felt strong and the guys gave me great support for the sprint.  I just missed out on the victory, but beating Nizzolo in a sprint is never easy. I am happy that I was able to be at the front, and was able to give the best of myself.  I have not had the best year so far, but today was great with an excellent team effort, and I hope that more good results for the team will follow.”

 

Larry Warbasse spent practically the entire day at the front of the race in Gippingen. Along with 13 other riders, Warbasse broke away from the pack on the second of ten laps, and then was reeled in with only half a lap to go until the finish. 

 

“It was difficult today to get into the leading group,” Larry Warbasse explained.  “In the first lap, there were tons of attacks, because everyone wanted to make it into the breakaway.  Of course our goal was to have someone in the break as well, and I am glad I was the one who made it.  Everyone in the breakaway group worked well together, and so we made good progress.  But the field never gave us too much space, and kept us constantly under control.  Not surprisingly, we were never able to get enough time and unfortunately were scooped back up in the final round.  For the sprint, the team was able to work for Tanner, and he succeeded in grabbing third place.  So that was a good day for us.”

 

“We had a strong race, and we were always present in the moves, just as we had planned,” Marcello Albasini, directeur sportif, explained after the race Thursday night.  “With Larry, we were able to be represented in the strong breakaway group, though the field still held it on a tight leash.  Then we wanted to have a good place in the final sprint, and with that objective, the team again lived up to expectations.  Tanner’s third place is a great result.  Our idea was to go into the final either for Tanner or Martin Elmiger, depending on who had the better legs.  In rising to this challenge, they uncorked a great team performance, which was rewarded with this strong result for Tanner.  I am pleased with this achievement.”

 

Kristian Sbaragli gains confidence from strong sprint in Gippingen

Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka had Kristian Sbaragli in the mix too, as he finished in 4th place for the African Team.

 

The race got off to a fast and aggressive start and Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka made sure to be part of the action by following the early moves. Reinardt Janse van Rensburg was part of 16 man group that got away after the first 18km lap while the peloton split in two due to the pressure. By having Janse van Rensburg in the lead group, Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka were in a good position as Sbaragli could save himself for the final if it would later end in a bunch sprint.

 

In the end, a big bunch sprint would in fact decide the outcome as Janse van Rensburg’s group were caught with 15km to go. The African Team looked to position Sbaragli for the finale and he was trying to better the 5th place he finished in last year. Sbaragli went one better than last year and secured 4th place for the African Team.

 

He said:

 

”Today I was racing for Keagan Girdlestone, my thoughts were with him. We were here to fight for the victory and we did that with Reinard in the break and then in the final sprint as well. From my side I am not so happy with the results because we can do better but I am really happy about the feeling on the bike after the sickness in the Giro. It has been a long time since I could do a good sprint and fight for the victory.  ”

 

Sam Bennett’s lead-out man grabs rare chance in Gippingen

For Bora-Argon 18, Scott Thwaites wrote the story of the day as he was in the break.

 

Before the final lap Thwiates launched an attack and tried to go on his own. He was fighting hard against the peloton, but was caught with 12k to go.

 

For the bunch sprint Zak Dempster, normally one of the lead-out riders for Sam Bennett, was the one to be supported from the team. He showed his speed and strength and finished the race in 6th place.

 

“Our goal was to be in the group with a rider that could also make a move in the end. With Scott we had the perfect guy in the front. It would have been great if he could have taken the race, but the pace in the peloton was too high the end. The 6th place from Zak is a great result and he deserves it. You can see how strong lead-out riders have to be these days. If you let them take their own chance, they are also up with the fastest guys,” said Christian Pömer, sports director.

 

No record victory for aggressive Michael Albasini in Gippingen

Two-time GP du Canton d’Argovie winner Michael Albasini spent the day driving the breakaway for ORICA-GreenEDGE, missing out on a third victory as the move was caught on the final lap of the race.

 

Albasini was part of a sixteen-man move that escaped on the first of eight laps around the town of Gippingen. Taking huge turns on the front and pulling the group up the short climbs, the Swiss rider gave it everything in search of a record breaking third win.

 

The race was eventually won from the bunch sprint by Giacomo Nizzolo (Trek-Segafredo) after the field came back together with less than 15kilometres to go.

 

Magnus Cort contested the sprint for ORICA-GreenEDGE, crossing the line in seventh place after suffering a mechanical in the finale and needing a very speedy bike change.

 

Sport director Dave McPartland was pleased with how the team performed in such a fast and aggressive race.

 

“The whole team rode very well today,” said McPartland. “We can be very pleased with our efforts. Michael (Albasini) was very unfortunate to be out front for so long only to be caught on the final circuit.

 

“It was a difficult lumpy course but we gave it our best shot with Amets Txurruka following the eight man move that tried to break clear in the last ten kilometres and keeping us in contact.”

 

“Magnus (Cort) was very unlucky with the timing of his mechanical,” explained McPartland. “However he did fantastically well to get back on and still finish in seventh place.

 

“Of course it would have been great if Michael's attack had made it to the line. He has such a good history of results in this race but as always he represented the team superbly and we can now look forward to the Tour de Suisse next week.”

 

Silvan Dillier in the top 10 at his comeback in home race

It was an expected sprint finish at the one-day GP du canton d’Argovie, which saw Silvan Dillier cross the line in eighth place behind Giacomo Nizzolo (Trek-Segafredo).

 

Danilo Wyss spent the day in a fourteen-rider breakaway who stayed away until the final lap of the ten lap course.

 

It was Dillier’s first race back following a crash at the Giro d’Italia which left him with a fractured finger.

 

Silvan Dillier said:

 

“There was quite a big breakaway early in the race and it was hard all day long. In the end the other teams brought them back and we had a late move in the last lap. But then it came down to the sprint finish. Actually I was feeling really good and quite comfortable. It was a good lead in race for Tour de Suisse.”

 

Danilo Wyss said:

 

“It’s common on this kind of race for a big group to go so when I saw guys like Albasini moving, I jumped with them. It was a really hard and fast start so I think it was good to be in this break. I was hoping that we would go to the finish with a strong group but they caught up with 10km to go on the final climb.

 

“It’s always extra motivation wearing the Swiss National Champion jersey. I was actually hoping for a remake of last year’s Swiss National Championship with Albasini but it didn’t happen. I think it was a good warm up for the Tour de Suisse. I was feeling good so I think I am ready for the next races.”

 

Sergei Chernetckii shows great form in Gippingen

Team KATUSHA’s Sergei Chernetckii finished 10th in a one-day race GP du canton d’Argovie (GP Kanton Aargau) held today in Switzerland. Chernetckii was part of the late break that went away on the last climb with 15 km to go. Later, with 5 km to go, the peloton caught the group, and the race played out in a bunch sprint won by Italian Giacomo Nizzolo from Trek-Segafredo.

 

”It was a very hard and fast race from the start until the last kilometers. A big group went clear in the beginning, but the peloton controlled it. Our team participated in the chasing together with Trek and few other teams, so before the last climb of the day we caught the break. Then on the climb Sergei Chernetckii did a very strong attack - he was able to go away with a few riders, but closer to the finish this attack was neutralized. I am happy with Sergei who showed a great fighting spirit until the finish line, taking a nice Top-10 spot. The team was good today, I am happy with the guys,” said sports director Torsten Schmidt.

 

Coming up this Saturday, Team KATUSHA will start at the prestigious UCI WorldTour race, the Tour de Suisse.

 

Fabian Wegmann misses out in Gippingen sprint

Fabian Wegmann finished 16th as best-placed Team Stölting Service Group rider.

 

Sven Reutter, Romain Lemarchand, Rasmus Guldhammer, and Thomas Koep missed a split halfway through the race when the peloton broke in two, and eventually abandoned. Christian Mager also didn’t finish the race.

 

Fabian Wegmann was well-positioned in the final but was swarmed by several riders in the last turn and couldn’t get back to the front on the slightly uphill finishing straight. He crossed the line in 16th position behind the winner Giacomo Nizzolo (Trek – Segafredo).

 

Sports Director Gregor Willwohl commented after the race: “We had great weather for cycling today. 20 degrees, no wind, lots of spectators along the route; it was a fun day! We just missed the break initiated by Albasini. But the way some guys raced today, it wouldn’t have made a big difference. Many riders put on a hard pace and then abandoned the race – if you know you don’t have to climb that hill several more times, you ride very differently.”

 

The next races for Team Stölting Service Group are Fyen Rundt – Tour of Fyen (1.2) on Saturday as well as GP Horsens Posten (1.2) and Rund um Köln (1.1) on Sunday.

 

Rui Costa tests his form for the Tour de Suisse in Gippingen

For Lampre-MERIDA, Rui Costa was 20th.

 

The race ended with a sprint of a small group of 47 in which LAMPRE-MERIDA was represented by the Portuguese champion who used the race to refine the condition in view of the Tour of Switzerland.

 

An escape of 14 athletes in which the blue-fuchsia-green team was present with Polanc, led the race until the final lap.

 

Lampre-MERIDA also had Arashiro, Durasek (the first race since the Tour of Turkey) and Niemiec making it to the finish. The latter is on course to return after the withdrawal from the Giro d 'Italia.

 

Aggressive ride by Androni at GP Kanton Aargau

With three riders in the escape of the 14 that characterized much of the day, Androni - Sidermec certainly did a good race. In fact, Marco Frapporti, Francesco Gavazzi and Mirko Selvaggi spent a long time in front. After getting caught, Marco Frapporti finished 25th in the sprint.

 

Astana ready to support Lopez and Scarponi in Switzerland after warm-up in Gippingen

"I tried to surprise the sprinters and I was close. I'm happy because my legs responded well and I feel ready for the Tour de Suisse,” said Miguel Angel Lopez Moreno.

 

The race was won by Italian Giacomo Nizzolo, but the young Colombian was involved in a fine move 300 meters from the finish line in Gippingen when he tried to anticipate the sprint.

 

"It was a race in preparation for the Tour de Suisse which starts in two days with a quick prologue but at the same time very technical,”said sport director Dmitri Sedoun.

 

"The team will work for the two captains Michele Scarponi and Lopez Moreno, but we will be ready to use every opportunity to win one or more stages also with our other riders.

 

"Our goal is the general classification. I hope that Lopez Moreno can improve the seventh place of last year and I believe a lot in Scarponi, who finished the Giro d'Italia in a very good shape.”