Team Novo Nordisk dig deep as Adriatica Ionica opens on rider’s home roads
04 June 2022
Team Novo Nordisk enjoyed a hot and hectic opening stage of Italian stage race Adriatica Ionica as the peloton passed only two kilometers from neo pro Filippo Ridolfo’s home in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region with Padovan Andrea Peron 13th on the stage.
Andrea Peron:
“It was a hot one today and it was also a tough one. I didn’t feel quite at my top level and in the second half of the stage there were a few little attacks over the climbs and myself and David managed to stay up there, but the penultimate climb saw the breakaway caught and we both slipped back a little.”
“Thankfully we mounted a chase caught back on, but in the lats ten kilometers it split again, and five guys went clear, they stayed away and fought for the stage maybe 20 seconds ahead of us and then all we could do was sprint for the top ten. I hope I feel better tomorrow, but we’ve got to make it up Monte Grappa and that’s going to be a long climb.”
Head sports director Massimo Podenzana:
“A few guys suffered a bit with the heat today, but we need to get used to that because it’s going to get hotter over the next few days and it’s important that we stay hydrated and try as much as possible to be together and help each other. Especially for Andrea in the finals.
“It was a tough day, and we were a little bit unlucky with Filippo hitting the deck in the feed zone, but that can happen to anyone and thankfully he’s ok. Tomorrow should be straightforward, but not easy. All day we will ride fairly flat roads that lead in only one direction, to the mighty Monte Grappa and then we climb for close to 30km.”