European champion Giacomo Nizzolo has extended his contract with the NTT Pro Cycling team.

The South African team, which saw many well-known riders leave before NTT ended its sponsorship and Asos took over, described Nizzolo's contract renewal as a "major coup."

After struggling with injuries, Italian sprinter Nizzolo enjoyed a successful 2020 campaign, winning stages at the Tour Down Under and Paris-Nice at the start of the year and taking the Italian and European road race titles when racing resumed in August. He was the first rider to win the Tour de France. However, he suffered a leg injury in the opening week of the Tour de France and was forced to abandon the race.

"I'm very happy to be a part of this team and this project because I feel part of it. Qhubeka is an amazing organization that makes it possible to change lives through cycling, and two years ago when I was in South Africa, I watched as the bikes were given to the kids. I will never forget it.

"I am really looking forward to racing again as soon as possible as a European Champion and as part of this new chapter. I feel like the team believes in me 100% and has given me additional motivation by launching exciting projects. My teammates and staff believe that I am the leader of the team, which is really what I need to perform."

Nizzolo joined the team in 2019 and will be the team's main sprinter next year, targeting Milan-San Remo, where he finished fifth this year, and the Tour de France, with the Giro d'Italia a possibility.

"We are very happy that Giacomo will continue to ride with us in the future. He achieved incredible victories this year, like the Italian and European Championship titles, which are very special," said team principal Doug Ryder.

"Giacomo is a perfect example of how he came into our organization and shined with his performance on the bike through the support he received. We have worked really well together and I look forward to continuing to work hard and improve even more."

After losing Michael Valgren, Louis Meinz, Ben O'Connor, and Ryan Gibbons, Nizzolo was the team's first signing for 2021. Victor Kampenaerts, Domenico Pozzovivo, Max Valscheid, Michael Gogle, Dylan Sunderland, and Andreas Stockbro, who had already signed contracts for 2021, will also be retained.

On Monday, team director Lars Mikkelsen told Cycling News that the team is building a team of about 100 riders to choose from, with many riders left with few options in the wake of the pandemic.

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