Late French summer light for Team Novo Nordisk at Classique Paris-Chauny
23 September 2022
The world’s first all diabetes professional cycling team head to France this weekend for the 100th anniversary edition of Classique Paris-Chauny and the team’s first appearance at the hilly one-day race.
Versatile Italian sprinter Andrea Peron will lead the team with 19-year-old Matyas Kopecky looking to gain more valuable high-level racing in his legs and what better way than one of the oldest races on the calendar. Antipodeans Declan Irvine and Hamish Beadle are set to provide strong support alongside Italian rouleur Umberto Poli.
“We’ve got three races left and we need to make the most of them,” said General Manager Vassili Davidenko. “Two in France and then Japan Cup in October, but first up is Paris-Chauny on Sunday and it’s going to be a long and challenging race.”
“It will be our first time racing here and as I’ve said in the past, we always like a new challenge and to be taking part in Paris-Chauny on the 100th anniversary edition will be a special experience. Make no mistake, we know its going to be a tough day out, over 200km of hard, hilly racing and we’ll give our all to get the best result possible.”
French climber Lucas Dauge makes his return to racing after a period of recovery from a broken collarbone and completes the team on home soil along with compatriot Mehdi Benhamouda.
“Now we have the final push, it’s been a long season,” began Peron. “I can feel it in my legs and in my head, but we have the motivation to end the year on a high and with only three races left we need to give the maximum and take what opportunities cone our way.”
“I’m looking forward to racing at Paris-Chauny because we haven’t competed in this event before. It’s an old race and being the 100th anniversary makes it more special. I’m not sure that the parcours is 100% perfect for me, it’s certainly punchy and from what I know, it is nearly always a reduced bunch that goes to the line, so we’ll see how it goes on Sunday.”
A historic route departing from the Parisian outskirts in Compiegne and heading northeast for 204km and 12 short but steep climbs before the tough finishing circuits in Chauny.
Team Novo Nordisk at Classique Paris-Chauny, Sunday 25th September:
Hamish Beadle (NZL, 24)
Mehdi Benhamouda (FR, 27)
Lucas Dauge (FR, 25)
Declan Irvine (AUS, 23)
Matyas Kopecky (CZ, 19)
Andrea Peron (IT, 33)
Umberto Poli (IT, 26)