"This result does not come by chance" - Giulio Ciccone reaping the rewards of tough winter training with top 5 finish at Tirreno-Adriatico

A fifth placed finish in the general classification at Tirreno-Adriatico marked a continuation of the positive early season form displayed by Giulio Ciccone, something he is looking to continue to build upon in the busy months ahead.

"My balance for this Tirreno-Adriatico is good. I knew I had a good condition, that I could aspire to a strong performance and result. My goal was a stage win, and I came very close to it," Ciccone reveals to Trek-Segafredo's official website. "Top five in the final classification, which came in the end. It was a good week of racing, both for me and the whole team; we can be satisfied."

Despite not being able to bring home a stage win, finishing 2nd on stage five behind Primoz Roglic, a fifth placed finish in the general classification will be more than enough to keep Ciccone's confidence levels up as the Giro d'Italia nears.

"This result does not come by chance. I worked hard in the winter, getting through it without any problems, and I think I am finally back to my real level," he says. "Next week I will recover my strength before Volta a Catalunya. Then I will complete an altitude training camp with the team. I will return to racing in Belgium, at Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Then, the Giro d’Italia will come.