Team Novo Nordisk set to make first appearance at Rund um Köln
19 May 2023
The world’s first all diabetes professional cycling team head to Cologne this weekend for their first appearance at the second oldest race in Germany, the one-day classic Rund um Köln.
Back-to-back top ten finishes on stages one and two and three breakaway’s at the recent Tour de Hongrie bodes well for team form and with versatile Italian Andrea Peron and French puncheur Charles Planet, the team have options.
“We’re very much looking forward to racing at Rund um Köln for the first time,” said General Manager Vassili Davidenko. “We haven’t raced in Germany since 2018 and it’s going to be great to be back there.”
“This is a hard race, but after some good results and a positive overall performance in Hungary we know what we’re capable of and it’s important that we carry on the good team work and keep the momentum going.”
Young Italian Filippo Ridolfo is rapidly becoming a breakaway protagonist to keep an eye on and narrowly missed out on the climber’s jersey at the Tour de Hongrie. Ridolfo is joined by compatriot Umberto Poli and the added firepower of returning Hamish Beadle and Declan Irvine with Brit Sam Brand completing the lineup.
“I’m feeling pretty good after Hungary,” said Ridolfo. “We produced a solid performance there as a team with Charles, Matyas and myself getting in the action in the breakaways and Matyas doing great with two top tens in the sprint. So we’re in a positive place heading into Rund um Köln.”
“It’s my first time racing here in Cologne and from looking at the parcours and the history of winners, then you see it will be a hard race. We know what we need to do to be up there competing and I’m looking forward to gaining more experience in another tough one day event.”
The race takes place around the historic and picturesque city of Cologne and was first held back in 1908. The 105th edition will follow the traditional route packed full of short, sharp climbs before building to what’s set to be a fast finish in the Cologne city center.
Team Novo Nordisk at Rundf um Köln, Sunday 21st May:
Sam Brand (GBR, 32)
Hamish Beadle (NZL, 25)
Declan Irvine (AUS, 24)
Andrea Peron (IT, 34)
Charles Planet (FR, 29)
Umberto Poli (IT, 26)
Filippo Ridolfo (IT, 21)