French racing continues over Easter for Team Novo Nordisk

The worlds first all diabetes professional cycling team continue their block of
French racing over the Easter holidays with La Route Adelie de Vitré coming
up first on Good Friday followed by the four day Région Pays de La Loire
Tour next Wednesday.

After a strong showing at last weekend’s Roue Tourangelle with Declan Irvine
in the break and on the podium as the race’s most aggressive rider Team Novo
Nordisk will be looking for more of the same, Irvine returns for Vitré
alongside Italians Filippo Ridolfo and Antonio Polga.

“This is a fantastic period on the racing calendar,” began General Manager
Vassili Davidenko. “Spring is always packed with one hard race after another
and Easter is a traditionally busy racing weekend.”

“We had some strong performances last week at La Roue Tourangelle with
Declan in the break and on the podium for the combative prize – that’s what we
want to see for La Route Adelie de Vitré, action, drive and determination to lead
from the front.”

“We will change the team for the Region Pays de La Loire Tour, it’s a different
race with four tough stages and some sprint opportunities for Andrea and
Filippo to work together in the finals. The guys need to show their experience in
the Loire Tour, particularly with each stage finishing with circuits, positioning
and teamwork will be crucial.”

French first year professional Lucas Terrier made his senior debut with the
team in Tours last week and Friday sees fellow neo pro Louis-Marie Posnic
make his first appearance for TNN as a full professional, and alongside
sprinter Celestin Wattelle completes the line up for Vitré.

The line up changes for the Loire Tour with stage racing coming back on the
menu as TNN look to make an impact over four days of classic style racing in
the Loire Valley. Milan-Sanremo breakaways stars Andrea Peron and David
Lozano come back into the team alongside Brits Hamish Armitt and Sam
Brand and French climber Lucas Dauge.

“I recovered well after Sanremo,” said Peron. “It certainly doesn’t get any easier,
that’s for sure. But it was a great way to put a stamp on the first part of the
season for us and create positive momentum that the boys carried into
Tourangelle last weekend – the morale is high and we’ll be aiming to be active
again both in Vitré and Region Pays de La Loire. “

Team Novo Nordisk at La Route Adelie de Vitré Friday, 3rd April:
Quinten De Graeve (BEL, 25)
Declan Irvine (AUS, 27)
Antonio Polga (IT, 26)
Louis-Marie Posnic (FR, 22)
Filippo Ridolfo (IT, 24)
Lucas Terrier (FR, 19)
Celestin Wattelle (FR, 22)

Région Pays de La Loire Tour, 7th – 10th April:
Hamish Armitt (GBR, 23)
Sam Brand (GBR, 35)
Lucas Dauge (FR, 29)
David Lozano (ESP, 37)
Andrea Peron (IT, 37)
Filippo Ridolfo (IT, 24)

Stages:
Tuesday 7th April, Stage 1: Fontevraud – l’Abbaye – Vertou, 187.5km
Wednesday 8th April, Stage 2: La Garnache – Les Sables-d’Olonne, 153.6km
Thursday 9th April, Stage 3: Avrillé – Sainte-Suzanne-et-Chammes, 199km
Friday 10th April, Stage 4: Brûlon – Le Mans, 179.5km