Team Novo Nordisk Eager for RideLondon Debut
20 July 2018
Race: Prudential RideLondon-Surrey Classic
Country: United Kingdom
Total Distance: 183 kilometers
Race Class: WT
Team Novo Nordisk is slated to take on Britain’s greatest one-day bike race – the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey Classic – on Sunday, July 29th. The World Tour race serves as Team Novo Nordisk’s Prudential RideLondon-Surrey Classic debut and its third World Tour race of the season.
“The Prudential Ride London – Surrey Classic is a new race to us, and it is an honor to be selected and have this amazing opportunity to highlight our mission and spread our message to inspire, educate and empower everyone affected by diabetes,” said Team Novo Nordisk Senior Vice President of Athletics Vassili Davidenko. “We’ve done several World Tour events in the past and we are going into the race with confidence and World Tour experience. From racing in the UK before, we know there will be big crowds and a very friendly atmosphere.”
The Prudential RideLondon-Surrey Classic sees Team Novo Nordisk returning to the United Kingdom after a three-year hiatus since the 2015 Tour of Britain. The world’s first all-diabetes pro cycling team’s roster features Fabio Calabria (AUS), Sam Brand (GBR – Isle of Man), David Lozano (ESP), Andrea Peron (ITA), Charles Planet (FRA), Umberto Poli (ITA) and Chris Williams (AUS).
The sixth edition of the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey Classic follows part of the 2012 London Olympic Road Race course and typically ends with a thrilling sprint on The Mall in central London. The stage features five intermediate sprints and five categorized climbs on the winding and narrow Surrey Hill roads. Sixteen of the eighteen World Tour teams will line-up with four wild-card professional continental squads along with national teams totaling 25 teams and 150 riders taking the start.
The 24-year-old Planet said he is looking forward to taking on the popular race and being aggressive from the start.
“I haven’t raced with the team in nearly two months, so my goal is to test myself in the breakaway and gain some race confidence before heading into the Tour of Denmark, which is one of my key races of the season,” said Planet. “Knowing past results, RideLondon typically comes down to a bunch sprint, but there is always some battles during the race and I look forward to being part of them.”
The Prudential RideLondon-Surrey Classic kicks on Sunday on Horse Guards Road in St James’s Park, London.
Team Novo Nordisk Roster Prudential RideLondon-Surrey Classic (July 29):
Fabio Calabria (AUS), Sam Brand (GBR – Isle of Man), David Lozano (ESP), Andrea Peron (ITA), Charles Planet (FRA), Umberto Poli (ITA), Chris Williams (AUS)
Sport Director: Massimo Podenzana (Italy)