Team Novo Nordisk excited to make first appearance at Giro di Sardegna

Team Novo Nordisk, the world’s first all diabetes professional cycling team will
make its first appearance at the legendary Italian stage race Giro di Sardegna
on Wednesday with the American outfit set for five days of tough racing around
the mediterranean island.

The 30th edition will be hilly, as expected and is set to cover over 670km over five
stages that begins in the northeast in Castelsardo and travels anticlockwise
around the Island to finish once more in the north in Olbia.

Italian rouleur Filippo Ridolfo fresh from a strong performance at the recent
Tour de La Provence will lead the team alongside the experienced Spanish
climber David Lozano with young Scot Hamish Armitt in support.

“It’s a pleasure for us to make our first appearance at the Giro di Sardegna”,
said General Manager Vassili Davidenko. “This was once a famous race and
it’s great to see it back on the calendar for its 30th edition. The route is tough,
let’s not mince words here. It’s challenging terrain and we’ll give our all but
we’re here to share our inspiring message and to continue our preparations for
our spring objectives.”

“For our young Italian riders it’s going to be a valuable and fulfilling experience
taking part in a challenging home race early in the season. While David and
Hamish will give us something in the climbs, of which there will be plenty. We’re
looking forward to the weeks racing and in particular to some meaningful
events with Novo Nordisk and the local health authorities in Sardegna.”

British stalwart Sam Brand completes the line up alongside Italians Antonio
Polga, Umberto Poli and Jacopo Colladon to give a strong home flavour to the
team who will be looking forward to strong support on the Sardinian roads.

“Racing in Italy is always exciting,” said Ridolfo. “Especially in a race we haven’t
done before like Giro di Sardegna, you have the pride of racing in your home
country, but also experiencing something new and sharing our message directly
to a community that we haven’t met before. That’s whats important.”

“The parcours is very hilly and challenging, stages three and five look to be the
ones that could suit me a little more, but as always we won’t know until we start
racing. I recovered well after Tour de La Provence and we’ll see if the benefit of
having some race rhythm in the legs helps this week and makes the difference.”

Team Novo Nordisk at Giro di Sardegna, 25th February – 1st March:
Hamish Armitt (GBR, 23)
Sam Brand (GBR, 34)
Jacopo Colladon (IT, 2
David Lozano (ESP, 37)
Umberto Poli (IT, 29)
Antonio Polga (IT, 26)
Filippo Ridolfo (IT, 24)

Stages:
Wednesday 25th February, Stage 1: Castelsardo – Bosa, 189.8km
Thursday 26th February, Stage 2: Oristano – Carbonia, 136.3km
Friday 27th February, Stage 3: Cagliari – Tortoli, 168.1km
Saturday 28th February, Stage 4: Arbatax – Nuoro, 168.1km
Sunday 1st March, Stage 5: Nuoro – Olbia, 177.3km