Lozano Just Outside Top 10 After Giro della Toscana Opener

20 September 2016

Race: Giro della Toscana, stage 1

Start/Finish: Arezzo / Montecatini Terme, Italy

Distance: 174.7 kilometers

Montecatini Terme, Italy – Team Novo Nordisk kicked off the two-day Giro della Toscana on Tuesday, facing off against some stiff competition on the 174.7-kilometer opening stage through the Tuscan countryside.

A breakaway of six riders pulled away inside the first 10km, and eventually established a maximum gap of 5:00. However, it was clear that Movistar was determined to rule the day, and with 30km to go the peloton had reeled the escapees back in.

As the riders approached the first of two final climbs near Montecatini, teams were once again on the attack, forcing the peloton to break up, but Team Novo Nordisk rider David Lozano emerged with an elite front group of approximately 30 riders.

“Today was a hard day at the office,” Lozano said, “everyone knew the second to last climb, with its sections of 18% gradients, were going to be decisive and threaten to split the group. I managed to stay up with the first group, and the last 20-25km were really fast and hard, with up and downs that made the group even smaller.”

As the race entered it’s final 14-km lap, seven riders broke off, gaining a 0:30 over the peloton and holding on to the finish. Movistar’s Giovanni Visconti won the day, and Lozano finished with the chasers at 14th, 0:07 behind Visconti.

“I did my best to stay in a good position, and I did the sprint as best as I could. I think with all the big teams and names, this is a good result for our team!”

Team Novo Nordisk, the world’s first all-diabetes pro cycling team, continues racing tomorrow in Italy at the second and final stage of Giro della Toscana and at stage 3 of Tour of China II in Shaoshan.

Results: