NTT Pro Cycling riders and staff celebrated Giacomo Nizzolo's sprint victory at the Tour Down Under as much as the Italian.

The African team won just seven races in 2019, with Edvald Boasson Hagen's stage at the Criterium du Dauphiné in June being its last on the World Tour. In recent months, the team has scrambled to score as many points as possible to avoid relegation from the World Tour, prioritizing survival over success.

They had a chance to taste victory on stage 5 of the Tour Down Under. Nizzolo was in the right place at the right time when the other sprint teams fell apart, beating a late charge by Simone Consonni (Cofidis) and Sam Bennett (Deceuninck-Quick Step).

NTT Procycling did not use Mark Cavendish as lead sprinter, but signed 12 new riders and brought in Bjarne Riis as part owner and new team manager. Riis detailed his troubled past in cycling and how he wants to change NTT Pro Cycling.

Riis was at the finish line in Victor Harbor with a rare smile on his face, a sign of team and personal satisfaction.

"This win is important for us. Of course I'm happy for me personally, but it's also important for the whole team."

"This win encourages us to work harder and keep running as a team.

Riis' arrival caused a lot of controversy, but also seemed to be the catalyst for early season success. Riis may not yet know the names of all the riders in NTT Pro Cycling, but he has already inspired them at a special team meeting held just before Saturday's start.

"It wasn't me being tough, but I could feel the tension among the riders.

"I told them that when we left the meeting room everything had to be clear and square. We want to see them smiling and doing what we tell them to do. So I told them that when we go out on the road, we have to keep fighting as a team. They did it and we won."

Nizzolo missed the post-stage celebration with NTT Pro Cycling staff and riders.

The former Italian national champion won three sprints in 2019 but has endured injuries that have interrupted his sprint career. He is now back to his best.

"I finally had a good winter. To start the season without any injuries or problems was a success for me. Things are going well so far and I'm really happy to win," Nizzolo explained in perfect English.

"I chose this stage for the team presentation. Of course I wasn't sure if I could make it into a sprint race because of the climbs and attacks in the second half, but I had a great team today.

"I'm sure Reese is happy we won. We gave it everything we had and it worked. Now we can move forward with confidence and this win will lift our spirits."