Team Novo Nordisk wrap up spring racing at Limburg and Brabantse Pijl
14 April 2025
Team Novo Nordisk line up for two more one day classics in Belgium to round out the spring period before heading to Turkey and back to the repetition of stage racing. First up comes Ronde Van Limburg on Wednesday followed by Brabantse Pijl on Friday.
20-year-old Italian Alessandro Perracchione will lead the line in Limburg alongside experienced team captain Andrea Peron with Czech sprinter Matyas Kopecky returning on Friday for Brabantse Pijl inspired after topping the best young rider category at the recent Loire Tour.
“Ronde Van Limburg and Brabantse Pijl mark the end of Spring one day racing for us, before we get back to stage racing,” began General Manager Vassili Davidenko. “They are both historic, important races and we are aiming to continue with our recent form and maintain our upward trajectory.”
“Alessandro has done well recently in both Taiwan and Greece and he will have the support of the team in Limburg on Wednesday with Matyas coming back in for Friday’s semi classic at Brabantse. These guys are our young stars of the future and it’s exciting to see them both progressing and getting results.”
The world’s first all diabetes team will tackle the 77th edition of the Tour of Limburg first, a historic race that was first held way back in 1919 and now follows a 178km course around the city of Tongeren.
Key rouleur Filippo Ridolfo heads the supporting cast with Australians Declan Irvine and Bailey McDonald lining up alongside Briton Nathan Smith and local rider Quinten De Graeve.
Fridays 65th edition of Brabanste Pijl follows a reduced route of 163km starting in Beersel and finishing in Overijse. Despite the reduction in length the usual punishing closing circuits will certainly characterize the race and positioning will be all important.
“The circuits around Overijse never get easier,” said Sports Director Gennady Mikhaylov. “The group gets smaller on every lap and the climbs get harder this year will be no different even if the race is a little shorter in length.”
“Matyas rode well last year but fell back on the final lap and if we can keep him in position until the circuits start, then maybe this year the shorter distance can work in our favor, but a lot of teams will be thinking the same thing and it’s going to be a challenging race all the same.”
Team Novo Nordisk at Ronde Van Limburg, Wednesday 16th April & Brabantse Pijl, Friday 18th April:
Quinten De Graeve (BEL, 24)
Declan Irvine (AUS, 26)
Matyas Kopecky (CZ, 22)
Bailey McDonald (AUS, 21)
Andrea Peron (IT, 36)
Alessandro Perracchione (IT, 20)
Filippo Ridolfo (IT, 23)
Nathan Smith (GBR, 24)