Team Novo Nordisk wraps up first race of 26 at Valenciana

The world’s first all diabetes professional cycling team completed the first race of the 2026 season at the Volta à la Comunitat Valenciana in Spain today to get the racing calendar underway and take the first steps towards the early season goals.

A challenging five days of racing unfolded across the region of Valencia from the coast to the mountains and back again with windy open roads and time trials in between, shocking those winter legs into action and providing some much needed intensity.

“The Volta à la Comunitat Valenciana is a rally tough race to start the season with,” said Sam Brand. “The terrain can be unforgiving and the competition is always world class, but it is also a great way to get that intensity and race rhythm straight back into the legs after the long winter months.”

“Personally I felt stronger as each stage passed and I was pleased to make it over the climb in the main group today. We had some frustrations caused by not making the breakaway, but you need some luck there too from time to time and it wasn’t for a lack of trying, it came down purely to timing and that will come with more racing.

“As always we achieved our main goal of any race we take part it in, to inpsire educate and empower everyone affected by diabetes and every day we met people like us who live with diabetes and face the challenges that we know so well and it was really special to see the effect that Team Novo Nordisk has on people. That’s a great way to start our season.”