Race Against the Clock at Tour of Croatia

Race: Tour of Croatia, Stage 5 (TTT)

Start/Finish: Porec/Umag

Distance: 40.3 kilometers 

Umag, Croatia – Team Novo Nordisk took to their Colnago K-zero time trial bikes for Saturday’s Tour of Croatia Team Time Trial. The race took place under a torrential downpour, which made the 40.3-km course, with its multiple sharp turns and roundabouts, all the more challenging.

“Today was only the second time since Coppi Bartoli, three years ago,” Team Novo Nordisk Sport Director Pavel Cherkasov said, “that we tested of our abilities as a team time trial squad. And I can say with confidence that we’ve come a long way since then. Today’s course was a very technical, with many ups and downs on the route and lots of challenging rain. It took our boys a little but to figure out the ‘flow’, but once they hit the second half, it was a really solid performance with synchronized coordination.” Team Novo Nordisk worked together to manage the treacherous conditions to finish safely in 52:44.

“I think we did a pretty good job overall,” said Team Novo Nordisk rider Kevin de Mesmaeker. “We don’t have much experience with team time trials, but nevertheless, everybody really stepped up today. Since the course was very slippery, we were very cautious on the corners, and they may have costed us some time; but went hard where we need to hard. I think we can finish closer position in the future.”

Results:

1st: Tinkoff: 49:36
2nd: Gazprom-RusVelo: 49:400
3rd: CCC Sprandi Polkowice: 49:46

14th: Team Novo Nordisk: 52:44

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