Team Novo Nordisk – 2016 Highlights
15 December 2016
Team Novo Nordisk had an amazing year, racing across the globe to inspire, educate and empower everyone affected by diabetes!
Check out some of our highlights from 2016!
January
Team Novo Nordisk kicked off 2016 making our Australian debut at the second edition of the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race.
February
In February, Team Novo Nordisk rode aggressively at our second appearance at Dubai Tour, with Martijn Verschoor sprinting to a top 15 finish and Charles Planet featuring in the day’s main breakaway on stage 1.
Team Novo Nordisk made its first appearance in Portugal at the five-day Volta ao Algarve, with strong performances from Charles Planet, including an appearance in the main breakaway on stage 4.
March
For the second consecutive year, sprinter Andrea Peron rode in the main breakaway at the 293-kilometer Milan-San Remo, the longest one-day race in the world.
Martijn Verschoor and Charles Planet were among a reduced group that completed an extremely difficult 10th edition of Strade Bianche, where nearly 180 riders took the start, but after 176km- featuring nearly 50km of unpaved roads- less than half crossed the finish line.
April
Team Novo Nordisk rode strong in Brazil at Volta do Rio Grande do Sul, with two top 5’s for Andrea Peron and a strong performance by Joonas Henttala in the GC.
The world’s first all-diabetes pro cycling showcased its improved form and teamwork at the scenic 2016 Tour of Croatia.
May
With two top 10s, Martijn Verschoor led Team Novo Nordisk to finish as the best-placed team overall at Tour of Estonia.
After jumping two spots on stage 8, Javier Megias secured 14th overall at the Amgen Tour of California, notching Team Novo Nordisk’s best result to date at the United States’ biggest race.
June
The world’s first all-diabetes professional cycling team earned its best general classification result to date in June, when Spaniard Javier Megias finished overall runner-up at the eight-day Tour de Korea. The result serves as a career best overall finish at a UCI race for Megias.
July
In July, the world’s first all-diabetes pro cycling team made our first appearance in a first World Tour stage race at the prestigious Tour de Pologne.
Team Novo Nordisk powered through several crashes and some tough luck to give 100% at PostNord Danmark Rundt in Denmark, the home of our title sponsor.
August
In August, Team Novo Nordisk Women’s Elite cyclist, Mandy Marquardt, sprinted to victory, winning all four United States Elite National Sprint Titles.
Team Novo Nordisk riders Gerd de Keijzer and Stephen Clancy showed strong improvements to persevere at Tour of Utah, “America’s Toughest Stage Race”.
September
In September, Andrea Peron led a young squad of Team Novo Nordisk riders at the 6-day Tour of China I, notching two top 10s along the way.
David Lozano showed good form in Italy, finishing top 20 overall against a competitive field at Giro della Toscana – Memorial Alfredo Martini.
October
Team Novo Nordisk’s Javier Megias earned a career best at Japan Cup when he took eighth at Japan Cup Road Race.
November
Team Novo Nordisk closed out the 2016 season with top 10s for Martijn Verschoor and stagiaire Quentin Valognes at China’s Tour of Yancheng Coastal Wetlands.
For World Diabetes Day 2016, the Team Novo Nordisk Pro riders shared how they’re “setting the record straight” on living and racing with diabetes.
December
In December, Team Novo Nordisk joined Hope Sports in the Dominican Republic to build three houses for families affected by diabetes and poverty. In addition to the men’s Pro team, this year’s service project included Team Novo Nordisk’s Development Team’s athletes and staff.
Immediately following our Dominican Republic home-building project, Team Novo Nordisk traveled to Stone Mountain, Georgia, for training camp, where the 2017 Pro roster got a chance to ride together for the first time.
Team Novo Nordisk capped off training camp with a Media and Day and Team Presentation in downtown Atlanta, where we presented the 2017 rosters for the Professional and Development Teams and officially unveiled our 2017 jersey.
Thanks for a great year, and join us in 2017 as we continue to race to inspire, educate and empower everyone affected by diabetes!