TNN return to racing at the Arctic Race of Norway
02 August 2024
A month can feel like a long time in professional cycling and for Team Novo Nordisk a month has passed between races, taking in some rest, recovery and two training camps with the most significant taking place at altitude in the Dolomites preparing for the upcoming Arctic Race of Norway.
The world’s first all diabetes professional cycling team took the opportunity to make the gap between races in July count and held the all-important annual Talent ID camp in Italy that forms an essential part of the team’s development pipeline, identifying the T1D athletes of tomorrow.
“The second half of the season starts now,” said General Manager Vassili Davidenko. “After a break from racing through July and our training camps in southern Tuscany and at altitude in the Dolomites, the guys are ready to go. But make no mistake we know from past experience just how tough the Arctic Race of Norway is.”
“It is a privilege for us to be racing here once again and both the terrain and competition will be very challenging. Our goal is to be present in the breakaways and do the best we can as we return to racing and show our jersey in this fantastic event.”
Team captain Andrea Peron is back after crashing heavily out of the Tour of Belgium in June and has made a full recovery ready to line up alongside rising Czech star Matyas Kopecky and young breakaway specialist Filippo Ridolfo.
“There has been a big change for the summer period, compared to the last two years,” said Kopecky. “Our altitude camp is Italy has been great and I expect to see more the advantage of that in Denmark rather than so soon in Norway. The altitude camp allowed us to focus really well on training as a core group and also recovery, so I expect the engine to be ready in Norway.”
“This will be my first time at the Arctic Race of Norway and it’a super cool, Norway is a beautiful place, so I’m looking forward to finally be there. This a new race to me and I have looked at some stages. I can see that some of them should suit me well and I’m excited to be back racing. For sure it will be tough, it’s been a while since we have raced and it will be a shock to the system. No matter what though, it will be a great experience to be there and I can’t wait to get back to it.”
Three neo pros complete the line up with young Italians Alessandro Perracchione and Antonio Polga joining Brit Nathan Smith for four days of epic racing across Northern Norway.
Team Novo Nordisk at the Arctic Race of Norway, 4th – 7th August:
Matyas Kopecky (CZ, 21)
Alessandro Perracchione (IT, 19)
Andrea Peron (IT, 35)
Antonio Polga (IT, 25)
Filippo Ridolfo (IT, 22)
Nathan Smith (GBR, 23)
Stages:
Sunday 4th August, Stage 1: Bodø – Rognan, 157km
Monday 5th August, Stage 2: Beiarn – Fauske, 175km
Tuesday 6th August, Stage 3: Tverlandet – Sulitjelma (Jakobsbakken), 155km
Wednesday 7th August, Stage 4: Glomfjord – (Meløy) Bodø, 156km