Tour of Slovenia #5: Giacomo Nizzolo powers to brilliant stage victory

Giacomo Nizzolo sprinted to victory on the final stage of the Tour of Slovenia. The Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka rider was able to get the better of Luka Mezgec (Mitchelton-Scott) and Shane Archbold (Bora-Hansgrohe) at the line in Novo Mesto.

The final stage of the Tour of Slovenia got underway in pouring rain, but it wasn't so much the weather that was playing on the minds of the riders. A category 3 climb that peaked just 29km from the finish would be the major factor in today's 167km race.

Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka were hoping to set up our Italian, Giacomo Nizzolo for the final, in the hope that he would be able to contest for the stage if he made it over the climb with the front group.

Bernhard Eisel did a lot work controlling the early breakaway attempts before Gazprom and UAE-Emirates took the race on, on the climb. Over the top there was roughly only 30 riders left in contention but importantly for us, Nizzolo was able to make this selection.

With the chase group over a minute down by the bottom of the climb, it was clear the front group would contest for the victory. It was a very technical finish with a narrow-left hand corner at 350m to go before a slight uphill cobble road to the line.

Nizzolo made a strong move down the inside before the left corner, taking 2nd wheel around the bend. The Italian then launched his sprint early but showed he had great legs as he powered away from the rest, taking a brilliant victory, his 2nd win of the season.

"The hardest part of today was trying to make it over the climb. It required a big effort from me but fortunately I was able to make it over. When I saw the reduced group, I thought I could definitely win this stage. It was a long sprint with the corner at 350 to go, but I had good timing so in the end it went well. Our team controlled from the beginning but there was always that question mark around the climb. I'm really happy for this win so a big thank you to the team who worked not only all day but all week, thanks to them. We will really enjoy this." - Giacomo Nizzolo

Team Dimension Data For Qhubeka

Founded in 2007, Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka became the first ever African cycling team to gain a WorldTour license, in 2016. The team has bases in South Africa, the Netherlands and Italy. It’s also known as Africa’s Team due to its focus on helping African talents to the world stage of cycling. 

Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka races for something bigger than wins. Through our relationship with Qhubeka, a global charity operating in South Africa, we raise awareness for #BicyclesChangeLives.

Qhubeka gives people a helping hand up by providing them with bicycles through its learn-to-earn and work-to-earn programmes. That’s what the hand on our team race jersey stands for. It’s a reminder that every Qhubeka bicycle is a helping hand to a Qhubeka beneficiary.

By supporting #BicyclesChangeLives you can help children to access education and help support skills development and job creation in South Africa.

Qhubeka

Qhubeka is a charity that moves people forward with bicycles.  People earn bicycles through our programmes, improving their access to schools, clinics and jobs.

A bicycle is a tool that helps people to travel faster and further, and to carry more. In the face of extreme and persistent poverty, bicycles can change lives by helping to address socioeconomic challenges at the most basic level – helping people to get where they need to go. 

Dimension Data 

Dimension Data (dimensiondata.com) uses the power of technology to help organisations achieve great things in the digital era. As a member of the NTT Group, we accelerate our clients’ ambitions through digital infrastructure, hybrid cloud, workspaces for tomorrow, and cybersecurity. With a turnover of USD 7.5 billion, offices in 57 countries, and 28,000 employees, we deliver wherever our clients are, at every stage of their technology journey. We’re proud to be the Official Technology Partner of Amaury Sport Organisation, organiser of the Tour de France, and the title partner of the cycling team, Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka.

Learn more about the team at www.africasteam.com. 

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