TNN looks to take Taihu Lake momentum into future races

Team Novo Nordisk made a promising return to Chinese racing at it concluded Tour of Taihu Lake. It was the first return to the race since 2019 for the world’s first all diabetes professional cycling team. Umberto Poli and Declan Irvine have been sharing leadership responsibilities and both riders narrowly missed out on a top 20 on the final stage.

Sports Director, Massimo Podenzana:

“Today was the last stage and the shortest one of 72 kilometers.  We had two laps of 36 kilometers. It was a very fast stage. With it being so short, the peloton didn’t want a big breakaway so only two riders go away. They were caught 20 km from the finish and the bunch arrived for a sprint.”

“It’s been a good week of racing for us. The racing was really fast here which should set the guys up for a strong end of season performance. We’ve got some tough stage races coming up but we’ve seen some very positive signs here.”

Gerd de Keijzer:

“Today was a short finale but constant full gas. There where 3 teams within 2 seconds of winning the overall GC so no break really got away because every second counted in the bonus sprints. It was a really technical course with lots of up and downs on narrow roads so you really had to keep your focus. Eventually two guys got away and we focused on the sprint. Unfortunately lost each other in the sprint and Declan just finished outside of the top 20.”

“It was great to be back racing and to be in the mix again, it’s good to have some really fast kilometers back in the legs which will help towards my last race of the season in Hainan.”