Team Novo Nordisk Back in the Fight with Top 10 on Stage 4 in Taiwan

Team Novo Nordisk delivered a strong and composed performance on Stage 4 of the Tour de Taiwan, with French rider Celestin Wattelle sprinting to an impressive 9th place finish – a result that signals growing confidence within the team after a challenging start to the race.

On a fast, flat parcours with no major climbs, the stage was always expected to favor the sprinters. The peloton wasted no time in setting a high tempo, with the opening hour raced at full speed before allowing a small breakaway to go clear.

From there, Team Novo Nordisk executed a disciplined race strategy. The riders stayed united and well-positioned throughout the day, avoiding crashes and remaining attentive to the threat of crosswinds and echelons.

“Our focus was on staying together and protected,” said Wattelle. “The team did a really good job of keeping each other safe and in position as the race developed.”

As the race approached its finale, the team began to move forward with intent, taking control of their positioning inside the final 10 kilometers. Their cohesion paid off, with the riders holding strong positions at the front of the peloton heading into the decisive final kilometer.

Despite a late crash in the final corner disrupting the run-in, Wattelle showed sharp awareness to avoid the incident and stay in contention. From there, he launched his sprint and secured a top 10 finish, a rewarding outcome for the team’s collective effort.

“I wanted to reward the team with an even better result,” Wattelle reflected. “I got a bit blocked in the last 100 meters, but we are getting better and better.”

After the setbacks of Stage 1, the result marks an important step forward for Team Novo Nordisk. The performance not only demonstrates their ability to compete in high-speed sprint stages, but also builds belief heading into the final day of racing.

“With what we did today, it gives us confidence that we can do even better,” Wattelle added. “Let’s see what the last day can bring to us.”

With momentum now on their side, Team Novo Nordisk will look to carry this confidence into the final stage as they continue to fight for results at the Tour de Taiwan.