Team Novo Nordisk Takes on Trofeo Laigueglia
22 February 2016
Race: Trofeo Laigueglia
Start/Finish: Laigueglia / Laigueglia
Distance: 192.5 kilometers
On Sunday, Team Novo Nordisk made its third appearance at Italy’s esteemed Trofeo Laigueglia.
The race’s 53rd edition kicked off at a high pace, with several teams eager to get out in front. At 30km, three riders, including Nicola Gaffurini (Norda-MG.Kvis Vega), Genki Yamamoto (Nippo – Vini Fantini) and Danilo Celano (Amore & Vita – Selle SMP), pulled away, and though Team Novo Nordisk was aggressive from the start, no one from the six-man squad was able to join the break.
The lead trio eventually widened their gap to 7:00, but with 50km to go, that lead had dwindled to just over a minute, and with 20km remaining, the escapees were reeled in, opening the door to several attacks. Inside the final 5km, five riders, including Andrea Fedi (Southeast-Venezuela), Arthur Vichot (FDJ), Damiano Cunego (Nippo-Vini Fantini), Diego Ulissi (Lampre-Merida), Matteo Busato (Southeast-Venuzuela) and Frnacesco Gavazzi (Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec) broke away, and Fedi managed to maintain a small gap and ride to his first professional victory. David Lozano finished as Team Novo Nordisk’s best-placed rider at 24th.
“The guys worked well in the final kilometers to try and stay with the leaders,” Team Novo Nordisk Sport Director, Massimo Podenzana, said. “Since the circuit ended up being so challenging, Clancy, Peron and Verschoor worked to help Megias, Planet and Lozano at the end, and I think they rode well.
“It was a really cold day in Italy,” David Lozano says, “with really wet and treacherous roads. I managed to stay up the front, but I didn’t have much confidence on the descents, which perhaps forced me to expend a little more power than I should have and cost me a better result at the end of the day. Still, I’m pretty happy with how the team worked together to keep Javi, Charles and me safe. And I feel I’m getting better every race, so this is a good time for me right now!”
David Lozano (SPA)
Results:
1st: Andrea Fedi (Southeast – Venezuela), 5:00:55
2nd: Sonny Colbrelli (Bardiani – CSF), +0:05
3rd: Grega Bole (Nippo – Vini Fantini), ”
Team Novo Nordisk Results:
David Lozano: 24, 1:06 behind Fedi
Charles Planet: 35, 4:39 behind Fed
Javier Megias: 57, 6:32 behind Fedi
Stephen Clancy: DNF
Andrea Peron: DNF
Martijn Verschoor: DNF
Team Novo Nordisk, the world’s first all-diabetes pro cycling team, continues racing this Wednesday, February 17, at Portugal’s Volta ao Algarve.
(Photos: ©TDWSport)