Giacomo Nizzolo after another miss in Giro: “Karma is against me”
Giacomo Nizzolo (Trek-Segafredo) took his ninth second place in Giro d’Italia sprints in Cassano d’Adda and understandably let out an angry burst of vitriol in defeat.
“I can’t deny I let out my anger after the finish line. When you do a good sprint like I did but still finish second, with just a lone attacker ahead of you, it’s normal and understandable not to be happy,” Nizzolo explained.
It was Nizzolo’s 13th podium finish at the Giro without ever having won. He has been second nine times and has finished third four times. Only Pietro Rimoldi in the 1930s has more podiums with out a win, finishing second five times and third another nine.
“It was the result that got to me. I really wanted to win here because its close to my home. I’m from Milan, and there were lots of family and fans club here. I’m still smiling because I think I gave it everything and there wasn’t anything else we could do. We haven’t got any regrets as a team. We chased the break all day and did what we could in he final with one rider less. When Kluge jumped away after Pozzato, I knew it would be dangerous but I still gave it everything, just like always.
“We can’t do more than we are doing. Karma is against me; I don’t know what I have done wrong to have this, but for sure there are worse things in life. We just need to keep going. We have to accept another second place, but we keep our heads high.”
Nizzolo again pulled on the red points jersey but his lead in the race-long completion is under threat from Diego Ulissi (Lampre-Merida).
“It’s going to be an interesting fight with Ulissi for the points jersey,” Nizzolo admitted. “But its not an equal fight because we’re two different kinds of rider. If I lose the red jersey to another sprinter I’d be angry but if he wins, I can only congratulate him.”
