Autumn starts in Belgium for Team Novo Nordisk at Gooikse Pijl

The world’s first all diabetes professional cycling team head back to Belgium on Sunday for the 21^st edition of the one-day race Gooiske Pijl.

A young versatile squad will line out for Team Novo Nordisk in Gooik with Australian Declan Irvine and Italian Filippo Ridolfo giving the team options as they look to guide young French development team rider Celestin Wattelle who is set to make his first appearance as a stagiaire for the senior pro team.

“We’re excited to be able to have the capacity to give opportunities to some of our development riders at this stage of the season,” said General Manager Vassili Davidenko. “Our pipeline is the backbone of Team Novo Nordisk and finding the right races to test our younger talents is not easy. Gooikse Pijl will be a great chance for Celestin to gain some experience of top level racing and get a taste of what one day events in Belgium are like.”

“There’s no pressure on our younger guys, we want to provide them with experience, but they also need the opportunities to step up and fight for results and this is one of them.”

French climber Lucas Dauge returns as does Italian Umberto Poli, motivated after a positive showing in last week’s tour of Istanbul. Another

solid performance in Istanbul came from 23-year-old Belgian Quinten De Graeve.

De Graeve is back racing on home soil and completes the team alongside gritty Manxman Sam Brand, who will provide the old head of experience to this young team after burying himself in GP Cycliste de Quebec last week, showing his never say die spirit to the last in Canada.

Team Novo Nordisk at Gooikse Pijl, Sunday 22^nd September:

Sam Brand (GBR, 33)

Lucas Dauge (FR, 27)

Quinten De Graeve (BEL, 23)

Declan Irvine (AUS, 25)

Filippo Ridolfo (IT, 22)

Umberto Poli (IT, 28)

Celestin Wattelle (FR, 21)