Team Novo Nordisk Takes on PostNord Danmark Rundt ITT
22 August 2019
Race: PostNord Danmark Rundt – Stage 2 – ITT
Start/Finish: Grindsted/Grindsted
Distance: 17 kilometers
Silkeborg, Denmark — Team Novo Nordisk concluded stage 2 of PostNord Danmark Rundt, a 17 kilometer-long Individual Time Trial with respectable performances, with neo-pro Declan Irvine posting the fastest time amongst our Changing Diabetes squad.
Strong cross and headwind were the key factor in the 17 km “race of truth” in Grindsted which saw top favorite Martin Toft take a convincing win in 19 minutes and 35 seconds, ahead of countrymen Rasmus Quaade and Mads Wurtz.
All six Team Novo Nordisk riders concluded the pan flat parcours safely, with 20-year.old Australian Irvine, who is making his PostNord Danmark Rundt, finishing just outside the top 50, in 20 minutes and 1 second.
Looking ahead to this Friday’s Queen Stage the goal was to open the legs and take no risks in a stage that favored the specialists.
The World’s first all-diabetes team continues to race in PostNord Danmark Rundt on Stage 3, a decisive 199.7km effort with a hard finish in Vejle.
Declan Irvine:
“Stage two here in Denmark was a 17 kilometers individual time trial. It was super windy and brutal but a good course that suited me perfectly. It was dead flat and not very technical. I wanted to give it a red hot crack to show the people at home what’s possible with diabetes. I’ve been training really hard and had picked this stage a long time ago. I worked hard with my coach Federico (Fontana) and wanted to do really well here. I got 21:01 across the line and I’m really stocked with that.”
Gallery:
Stage 2 Classification
1st – Martin Toft (BHS – Almeborg Bornholm) – 0:19:35
2nd – Rasmus Quaade (Riwal) – 0:00:11
3rd – Mads Wurtz Schmidt (Denmark) – 0:00:11
54th – Declan Irvine (Team Novo Nordisk) – 0:01:26
(Photos: ©René Vigneron)