'I was on my limit’: Tuckwell finishes runner-up at Giro Next Gen

Luke Tuckwell has come agonisingly close to becoming the first Australian to win the Giro Next Gen after the leader’s Maglia Rosa jersey slipped through his fingers on the final stage.

After riding into leader’s jersey on Stage 5, the 21-year-old Red Bull- BORA – hansgrohe Rookies rider emptied himself on the eighth and final stage fighting to hold onto the general classification lead.

But Tuckwell had to settle for runner-up after he found himself battling to stay with eventual GC winner Slovenian Jakob Omrzel (Bahrain Victorious Development Team) when the race lit up with 12 kilometres to go.

“Had you told me one week ago that I’d be second of the Giro Next Gen, I would have been happy with it. But now I’m disappointed. However, I’ve learnt a lot this week. Last year I had an indication that maybe I could be a GC rider and this week I’ve proven to myself that I can be," the Bathurst Cycling Club junior said.

Norwegian Jørgen Nordhagen (Team Visma Lease a Bike Development) and Omrzel dropped Tuckwell on the second ascent to Prarostino climb with 12km to go.

While Nordhagen went on to get the stage win, Omrzel crossed the line second and had enough advantage on Tuckwell to beat him overall by 12 seconds.

"It speaks for itself: Nordhagen and Omrzel had more left in the tank than me. I was on my limit, I rode as hard as I could but I couldn’t kick. Up to that moment, it was going well. We got over the climb the first time with three guys and we were controlling the race. The team has been incredibly strong,” Tuckwell said.

Tuckwell joins the likes of fellow Australians Jai Hindley and Lucas Hamilton who have also finished on the overall podium at past editions of the Giro Next Gen. 

Images: LaPresse