Tour of Slovaquie

The second stage of the Tour of Slovakia kicked off in the historic city of Nitra. During the night a severe storm swept through the city, causing significant property damage. Fortunately, by morning, the weather had improved, allowing the stage to proceed as planned.

The 192-kilometer stage was the longest of the tour. Team Novo Nordisk faced significant challenges, navigating a route characterized by rolling hills and scenic landscapes. The stage concluded with a demanding climb, offering a picturesque finish in the enchanting surroundings of a castle park. This stage not only tested the cyclists’ endurance but also showcased Slovakia’s natural beauty and cultural heritage.

“Today’s stage was the longest of the tour. The peloton was active, and there was a fight for a breakaway from the beginning. Filippo Ridolfo also tried, but we didn’t manage to get into the breakaway of the day that formed early at the 20-kilometer mark. So, our focus shifted to conserving as much energy as possible for the tough stages ahead”, said sport director Massimo Podenzana.

“The route featured several short and steep climbs, adding to the challenge. The WT teams had the stage under control the whole time. The racing was active, and as the finish approached, the breakaway’s lead quickly decreased. Approximately 25 km before the finish, a rain shower with crosswinds hit the peloton, but fortunately, it didn’t last long, and the finish was dry. 10 km from the finish, the peloton was back together. Our guys did well to stay composed and conserve energy, keeping our strategy in mind for the upcoming challenges.”

As a first finisher for Team Novo Nordisk, Hamish Beadle said, “Today was a bit of a shock to the system, having not raced for a while, but it was nice to be back. Everyone did a good job keeping me safe, and I had Filippo and Umberto helping me for the final, which was really nice. I’m a bit disappointed I couldn’t finish it off for the guys, though we have some more chances in the coming days.”

Photo credit: Sprint Cycling Agency

Stage 3 of the Tour of Slovenia raised the stakes, taking the peloton 133.5km from Maribor to Celje over two categorised climbs Planina na Pohorju and Celjska Koča that turned the day into a genuine fight for the breakaway.

Sam Brand, who featured in the day-one breakaway earlier in the race, was once again determined to get into the mix. With the climbs making for a far more selective fight than the previous two stages, it took considerably longer than usual for the move of the day to form. After a number of strong attempts from Brand and his teammates, the peloton ultimately only allowed a small group of three riders to go clear.

With the main breakaway gone, the team regrouped and turned its attention to positioning, working together as a unit to keep their jersey visible near the front of the bunch heading into the final climb.

Sam Brand said:

“Today was about being positive, we knew it would be a fight for the breakaway as there were two big climbs and I wanted to be positive and try to go in the break again. It took a lot longer to go and after a number of strong attempts from me and the guys, the group only let a small attack go. We regrouped and worked for good position as a team heading into the final climb. We are always looking for more and to show our jersey at the front. We will take it day by day and look to be positive again on stage 4.”

The team will now turn its focus to Stage 4, the queen stage of the race, which takes the peloton over the legendary Vršič Pass before a long descent into Kranjska Gora, another opportunity to be on the front foot.

Team Novo Nordisk achieved a notable milestone as Hamish Beadle powered to a podium finish, claiming third place in Stage 3 of the Tour of Slovakia. This marks our team’s first podium of the year, showcasing exceptional teamwork and determination on the course.

The third stage took the peloton from Piešťany to Dubnica nad Váhom in the western part of Slovakia. The race route totaled 161.2 kilometers, featuring three mountain and two sprint primes through the short but steep climbs of the White Carpathians.

Today, cyclists also contended with the full force of nature. It started off extremely hot, making the ride challenging right from the beginning. As if that weren’t enough, the weather took a dramatic turn later in the race, and a heavy downpour hit, turning the roads wet and slippery, causing a few crashes. Fortunately, everyone on our team was okay.

The stage was the simplest in terms of profile, unfolding as expected. Despite its straightforward nature, the route presented several risky situations, especially in the final 15 kilometers, as the pace intensified and everyone fought for position at the front.

The organizers chose a highly technical finish, preceded by tight turns on a narrow road that stretched out the peloton. It was here that Alaphilippe managed to break away, with Beadle closely following after the fantastic teamwork of his teammates.

“Again today, we were fully committed to the sprint. We had a plan and stuck to it”, said Beadle. “I cannot thank the boys enough for their support all day. In the final 5km, Filippo did one of the best lead-outs I’ve ever had, so I’m glad I could finish it off this time!”

Photo credit: Sprint Cycling Agency

The penultimate day of the Tour of Slovakia was characterized by mountain primes. The 183 km route led from Partizánske to Ružomberok, moving the race into the central part of Slovakia. The hilly terrain of Vtáčnik and the Kremnica Mountains offered a generous number of hills, which posed a challenge for Team Novo Nordisk. The race ultimately finished in the historic Andrej Hlinka Square in Ružomberok.

“The peloton was active, trying to form a breakaway from the start, with several attacks. The temperatures were high throughout the day, so we focused mainly on proper hydration,” said the sport director Massimo Podenzana. “Eventually, the breakaway of the day was formed, and the peloton rode well. The situation became more difficult later when the pack’s pace significantly increased, reducing the breakaway’s lead. Many cyclists, some of our riders included, dropped on the climbs.”

Although the finish was flat, it was preceded by two ascents up Kalvária hill, where the maximum gradient reached up to 15%, so it was not expected that the classic sprinters would be the first to cross the line.

Podenzana continued, “7 km from the finish, the peloton was completely shattered. Our team tried to save as much energy as possible for tomorrow’s challenging mountain stage.”

Neo-pro Antonio Polga shared his thoughts on today’s stage, “It was a hot day, and I felt strong and had good sensations. I tried to stay with the group in the final 10 km, but the climb was tough.”

“However, I managed my energy well until the end and fought like a warrior to catch as many riders as I could on the last lap of the final circuit,” continued Polga. “I’m happy with my progress over the last few months, this was a good result. I’m motivated and confident that I will continue to improve as a rider in the coming months. I’m eager to see how far I can go.”

Photo credit: Okolo Slovenska/Sona Nikova