Team Novo Nordisk to start 2026 season at Valenciana

02 February 2026

Team Novo Nordisk is ready to begin the 2026 season in Spain at this week’s Volta à la Comunitat Valenciana with experienced Spanish climber David Lozano set to the lead the team on home soil while 19-year-old compatriot and neo-pro Juan Jose Lopez will make his senior debut for the team.

The 77^th edition will take place over five days of racing with an individual time trial coming on stage two and bookended by hilly stages before what is set to be the usual thrilling sprint finale by the port in Valencia.

“We’ve had a solid winter of training and preparation and now we’re ready to start the season,” said General Manager Vassili Davidenko. “The Volta à la Comunitat Valenciana is a challenging race to start. Not only the terrain, but the field of competition is of the highest quality this year and we are under no illusions that this will be a hard race.”

“For our goals it aligns perfectly, hilly stages, a time trial and sprints give the guys a chance to start with something of everything and gauge where they are at in these early races. I want to see us active, particularly in the breakaways and doing our best to be visible throughout the race.”

British riders Hamish Armitt and Sam Brand line up in support of Lozano alongside climbers Antonio Polga and Lucas Dauge with Kiwi Hamish Beadle completing the team.

“Now that I am one of the older, more experienced riders on the team my role is changing slightly,” began Lozano. “We have four new young guys with us for 2026, guys like Juanjo and Donovan Mackie and it’s the responsibility of me and Andrea as the older leaders to teach these guys. How to race, position yourself in the bunch where you don’t waste energy and make sure our roles on the road are followed.”

“Of course, I still have my personal goals. This winter went well for me, I had no issues and I was able to train solidly to keep building towards the season start. Now that’s here, I feel read. This year may be the hardest edition of the Valenciana due to the competing teams – many of the big guys are racing there as part of their early season preparations. So, it will be hard for sure, but I would like to try to be there on the climbs and may also be in the breakaway one day.”

Team Novo Nordisk at Volta à la Comunitat Valenciana 4th – 8th February:

Hamish Armitt (GBR, 23)

Hamish Beadle (NZL, 27)

Sam Brand (GBR, 34)

Lucas Dauge (FRA, 29)

Juanjo Lopez (ESP, 19)

David Lozano (ESP, 37)

Antonio Polga (ITA, 26)

Stages:

Wednesday 4^th February, Stage 1: Segorbe – Torreblanca, 160km

Thursday 5^th February, Stage 2: Carlet – Alginet, 17km (ITT)

Friday 6^th February, Stage 3: Orihuela – San Vincente del Raspeig, 158km