Team Novo Nordisk ready to go at all-important Tour of Denmark

21 July 2026

Look to youth and look to the future. Team Novo Nordisk goes into the biggest race of the season at the PostNord Danmark Rundt next week with a squad showing a nice blend of youth and experience, brimming with promise and the desire to impress and inspire.

The 35th edition of the race runs from Wednesday July 29th to Sunday August 2nd, covering five stages across the length and breadth of Denmark in what promises to be another thrilling edition of one of the UCI ProSeries’ most prestigious stage races.

The race is always one of the most significant on the calendar of the world’s first all-diabetes professional cycling team as the home of Danish title sponsor Novo Nordisk, and the 14th year of one of cycling’s most enduring and successful partnerships will be no different.

Former Tour of Denmark white jersey wearer Filippo Ridolfo will lead the seven-rider team supported by compatriots Antonio Polga and Umberto Poli and experienced Manxman Sam Brand.

“Selection was very tough this year,” began General Manager Vassili Davidenko. “Together with our performance team we’ve chosen a balanced, exciting and youthful team for our biggest race on the calendar. We are coming into the race on the back of a successful training camp that combined our Talent ID programme and our senior pro preparations. The pressure will be on to perform in Denmark and we won’t shrink from that. We are ready.”

“We have such a strong connection to Denmark. Our bikes, made by Argon 18, are Danish owned and have their European base in Denmark, while Novo Nordisk continue to show incredible commitment and support to the team after 14 years together. We know very well how important the PostNord Danmark Rundt is, not only to our partners but also to the diabetes community that inspired the very creation of Team Novo Nordisk in the beginning.”

Neo-pro Juan José López makes his first appearance at the Danish tour and completes the team alongside Aussies Bailey McDonald and Declan Irvine.

“The Tour of Denmark is by far our most important race of the year,” said Ridolfo. “It’s effectively our home tour and the reception we receive year after year from the fans and the massive community of support from Novo Nordisk employees is unreal. It’s an exciting week for us.”

“I’ve put the work in and I’m ready to race. I’ve spent the last few weeks at altitude in Andorra and the goal is to be as active as possible and try to recapture the form of a couple of years ago when I had the white jersey for a few stages. It will be tough — there’s a lot of strong competition out there — but nothing good comes without a challenge.”

Team Novo Nordisk at Postnord Danmark Rundt, 29th July to 2nd August:

Sam Brand (GBR, 35)

Declan Irvine (AUS, 27)

Juan Jose Lopez (IT, 19)

Bailey McDonald (AUS, 23)

Antonio Polga (IT, 27)

Umberto Poli (IT, 29)

Filippo Ridolfo (IT, 24)

Stages:

Wednesday 29th July, Stage 1: Aalborg – Aalborg, 197.6km

Thursday 30th July, Stage 2: Glyngøre – Skive, 182.9km

Friday 31st July, Stage 3: Fredericia – Vejle, 202.9km