Kopecky breaks away on familiar roads at Valenciana

Young Czech star Matyas Kopecky stretched his legs on the famous climbs of stage two of the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana for Team Novo Nordisk today, animating the breakaway and taking the GPM points atop the iconic Coll de Rates.

Like many of the teams competing here in Valenciana, the world’s first all diabetes professional cycling team has spent plenty of time at training camps in the area and know the roads well. Particularly the stunning yet challenging climbs, Coll de Rates and Puerto de Benimantell. That knowledge proving useful throughout the stage.

“Obviously I’m not a climber by any stretch of the imagination,” began Kopecky. “But I really wanted to get out in the breakaway on these roads today and fortunately I made it into the group and from there it was about seeing how long we could stay up the road.”

“It’s our first race of 2025 and the only one real sprinters day coming on Sunday it was important to try and take an opportunity to stretch the legs after yesterday’s TTT and I certainly did that. Knowing the roads helps immensely, you’re aware of what’s comin gin real time and not just something that you’ve studying on a screen.”

Aside from the iconic status of the Coll de Rates as one of cycling’s well known training climbs, it’s also a special place for the teams title sponsor Novo Nordisk as each year many employees come and spend time riding with the TNN riders up the winding slopes to enjoy the stunning views of the Costa Blanca and get taste of what it feels like to test themselves in the playground of the world’s biggest pro riders.

“The collaboration in the group was good and I was feeling strong,” continued Kopecky. “But on the Queen stage you know that it’s an extremely long shot that you’re going all the way, so I wanted to try and take the chance and go over the top of the Coll de Rates at the front and take the GPM.”

“It’s a great feeling to be able to do that in a race, it’s a special place for many cyclists, but for our team and the whole community of people living with diabetes and for Novo Nordisk it has real significance and that was for everyone out there who believes in us.”