TNN return to WorldTour racing in Quebec and Montreal
12 September 2024
Team Novo Nordisk will line up against the worlds best in Canada this weekend as the worlds first all diabetes professional cycling team take on the hilly courses of the GP Cycliste de Quebec on Friday followed by GP Cycliste de Montreal on Sunday.
After animating the breakaway in last years edition in Quebec, Spanish climber David Lozano returns targeting another good performance alongside in form team captain Andrea Peron.
“Quebec and Montreal are our only WorldTour races on the calendar this year,” said General Manager Vassili Davidenko. “It’s very important for us to race strongly in these big events and give a good account of ourselves.”
“These our home races for our performance partner Argon 18 and David showed last year how capable he is of putting on a show after doing a great job in the break at GP Quebec. We know how hard the courses are here and the field is packed with the best riders in the world preparing for the upcoming world championships. This is added motivation for us and we need to channel that on the right way this weekend.”
Italian’s Filippo Ridolfo and Antonio Polga line up ‘fresh’ from a very wet and stormy day out at Sundays GP Larciano alongside young prospect Alessandro Perracchione with Manxman Sam Brand and American Logan Phippen completing the team.
“My preparation has been a little different this time around,” said Lozano. “After fracturing my shoulder in June I had to spend more time off the bike than I’d hoped, but I’m feeling good now.”
“Both races are very hard, lots of elevation and packed with short but steep climbs that keep coming. We’d love to show ourselves again, but the field is incredibly strong this year and I think the battle for the breakaway will be harder than last time. We’ll see, we’re motivated. We have a goal and we’ll do our best to achieve it.”
Quebec comes up first with 16 punishing circuits around the stunning old town and along the St Lawrence river. With close to 3,000 meters elevation over 200km of racing, its make up is close to a Northern European Classic and is always an exciting race.
If GP Quebec sounds tough, GP Montreal will take your breath away at 221km and close to 5,000 meters elevation, following part of the Olympic road race course from 1976 with numerous ascents around the slopes of Mount Royal including Côte Camilien-Houde.
Team Novo Nordisk at GP Cycliste de Quebec & GP Cycliste de Montreal, 13th & 15th September:
Sam Brand (GBR, 33)
David Lozano (ESP, 35)
Alessandro Perracchione (IT, 19)
Andrea Peron (IT, 35)
Logan Phippen (USA, 32)
Antonio Polga (IT, 25)
Filippo Ridolfo (IT, 22)