Some of Team Novo Nordisk’s top riders have made the trip to Argentina to participate in their first race of the 2014 season, the Tour de San Luis. The American team is comprised completely of riders with Type 1 diabetes, and has the goal of showing that the disease does not mean that a sporting career is impossible.
Formerly known as Team Type 1, it changed both its sponsor and its name prior to last season, and competed in a number of big events around the globe.
While it didn’t clock up any UCI wins in year one as an all-diabetic project, Andrea Peron finished third on stage one of the Tour de Beauce in June and then third on two stages of the Tour of China I in September.
He also took other top ten placings in the Route Adélie de Vitré and on stages of the Vuelta a Castilla y Leon, the Tour of Denmark, the USA Pro Challenge, the Tour do Rio and the Tours of China I and II.
The Italian will be part of the lineup for San Luis, a 2.1 race which will be contested by a large number of WorldTour teams and some of the top names in world cycling.
Also on the squad are the Spaniards David Lozano and Javier Megias, the Belgian Kevin de Mesmaeker, the Australian Chris Williams and the Dane Martijn Verschoor.
Team founder Phil Southerland has lined out an eventual goal of riding the Tour de France. He hopes that 2014 will see further progression by the riders, and also that the team will spread its message in the countries where it races.
“We are looking forward to beginning our 2014 season at the Tour de San Luis. Almost two million people are affected by diabetes in Argentina and we hope that Team Novo Nordisk’s participation in the race will inspire people and show the world what may be possible when you have diabetes,” he said.
The team’s general manager Vassili Davidenko said that the high level of competition was important for the team’s riders, and that they were committed to aiming higher in 2014.
“We are very excited to be competing against some of the best cyclists in the world at the Tour de San Luis,” he said. “This is a very high profile race and the world will be watching us. Following a successful first season as Team Novo Nordisk, we are hoping to achieve even greater results this year and inspire more people with diabetes.”
There will be a dozen WorldTour teams in the event, namely AG2R-La Mondiale (France), Astana Pro Team (Kazakhstan), BMC Racing Team (USA), Cannondale Pro Cycling (Italy), Garmin - Sharp (USA), Katusha (Russia), Lampre-Merida (Italy), Lotto-Belisol (Belgium), Movistar Team (Spain), Omega Pharma-Quick Step (Belgium), Orica Greenedge (Australia) and Trek Factory Racing (USA).
The race begins on January 20th with a 164 kilometre stage running from San Luis to Villa Mercedes. This will be followed by finishes in Mirador del Potrero, Juana Koslay and the Altor del Amago, a 19.2 kilometre time trial in San Luis, plus two further road race stages to Merlo/Mirador del Sol and Terrazas del PorteZuelo.
In all there will be 1,030.8 kilometres of racing, including three summit finishes.
Tour de San Luis (2.1):
Team Novo Nordisk lineup: Andrea Peron (ITA), David Lozano (ESP), Kevin de Mesmaeker (BEL), Chris Williams (AUS), Javier Megias (ESP) e Martijn Verschoor (DEN).
Stage 1, January 20: San Luis to Villa Mercedes, 164 km
Stage 2, January 21: La Punta to Mirador del Potrero, 170.6 km
Stage 3, January 22: Tilisarao to Juana Koslay, 175.8 km
Stage 4, January 23: El Potrero de los Funes to Alto del Amago, 168.7 km
Stage 5, January 24: Sal Luis to San Luis CRI, 19.2 km
Stage 6, January 25: Las Chacras to Merlo (Mirador del Sol) 184.4 km
Stage 7, January 26: San Luis to Terrazas del Portezuelo, 148.1 km