Team Novo Nordisk return to familiar territory at Tour de Taiwan
13 March 2025
The stage racing continues apace for Team Novo Nordisk as the world’s first all diabetes professional cycling heads to the Tour de Taiwan for five days of explosive racing in the early spring heat of East Asia.
After making a full recovery from his crash at the recent Le Samyn in Belgium, 20-year-old Piedmontese Alessandro Perracchione will get a chance of some freedom alongside British breakaway specialist Nathan Smith asboth riders look to make the most of the opportunity to get amongst the results.
“We always enjoy racing at the Tour de Taiwan where we receive such a fantastic welcome both from the fans and Novo Nordisk employees who are always out there supporting us,” said General Manager Vassili Davidenko. “It’s exciting to be coming back once again and I’d like to extend a big thank you to the race organizers for their continued hard work and support.”
“The variety across five stages of racing against stiff competition is always exciting and filled with action, providing a great opportunity for our younger riders to go for results. We will be looking at Alessandro and Nathan to step up and show themselves here in Taiwan. It has been a positive start to the season for us so far, but we need to keep following the upward curve and it would be great to see us in the top placings this week.”
The 2025 edition starts with a short and fast stage for the sprinters in Taipei before steadily heading south around the island into hilly terrain and a picturesque yet challenging finale in Liudui Hakka Cultural Park.
“I’ve recovered well after crashing in Belgium at Samyn, it was sore for a few days, but I’m feeling good now,” said Perracchione. “This will be my first time racing at Tour de Taiwan and I’m very much looking forward to it. Traveling half way around the world for the first time is incredibly exciting and I want to show that the faith the team has shown in me is for good reason by riding well and trying to achieve some results this week.”
“You never fully know what to expect from a new race, but after studying the profiles with the team it looks that there could be some good opportunities for us to show what we can do and like in Estonia last year, I’m eager to make the most of the chance to go for the finals.”
Fellow Italians Antonio Polga and Umberto Poli complete the five-rider line up alongside Aussie neo pro Bailey McDonald starting his second race for TNN.
Team Novo Nordisk at the Tour de Taiwan 16th – 20th March:
Bailey Mcdonald (AUS, 21)
Alessandro Perracchione (IT, 20)
Umberto Poli (IT, 28)
Antonio Polga (IT, 25)
Nathan Smith (GBR, 24)
Stages:
Sunday 16th March, Stage 1: Taipei City Hall, 83.2km
Monday 17th March, Stage 2: Taoyuan City Hall – Green Pond Park, 123.31km
Tuesday 18th March, Stage 3: Baozhong Yimin Temple, Xinpu – Shigang Visitor Center, 154.3km
Wednesday 19th March, Stage 4: Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum – Kaohsiung National Stadium, 146.44km
Thursday 20th March, Stage 5: Meinong Cultural Museum – Liudui Hakka Cultural Park, 121.41km