Peron Finishes Strong as Team Novo Nordisk Closes Out Tour of Shanghai

Team Novo Nordisk brought the Tour of Shanghai to a close with a strong collective ride on the final stage into Nanhui, working well together throughout the day as Andrea Peron crossed the line in 12th, with Donovan Mackie following in 17th.

Unlike the previous two days, no breakaway was able to get away, with the peloton kept on edge instead by a steady stream of attacks. Crosswinds at one point split the bunch into three, though the race came back together before the finish. With the field reunited, the team turned its focus to the sprint, working to protect Mackie’s chances in the finale.

Peron, who rode in support of Mackie before the finish opened up in his own favour, described a fast, nervous stage from start to finish.

“It was a fast race, no breakaway, but constant attacks,” he said. “At one point crosswinds split the peloton into three groups, but in the end we all came back together.” His focus in the finale was on the team’s sprint plan rather than his own result. “I wanted to help Donovan, and I think we did that well, because we were well positioned at the end, but he ended up with a cramp near the finish.” Peron himself was left uncertain of exactly where he’d finished. “I’m not sure what I ended up finishing… I had to brake with 300m to go, otherwise I’d have finished in a much better position.”

With the race now finished, the team can look back on three stages marked by tactical variety, a breakaway on Stage 2 that lifted De Graeve to 15th overall, and a hard-fought bunch finish in the crosswinds on the final day. The team now turn its attention to the next block of racing.