Spring starts at Le Samyn for Team Novo Nordisk
03 March 2025
Following hot on the heels of ‘Opening Weekend’ is the cobbled semi classic Le Samyn with Team Novo Nordisk lining up at the 57th edition of the 200km one-day event as the Belgian classics season officially begins.
The seven man squad will be led by Czech sprinter Matyas Kopecky with the 22-year-old returning to his favorite races of the season and looking for a strong start to the Spring campaign, supported by Italians Filippo Ridolfo and Alessandro Perracchione.
“We have been back racing for a month already,” began General Manager Vassili Davidenko. “With two stage races completed, but for the cycling traditionalists, the season doesn’t truly get underway until the Belgian Classics come around and we’re excited to be lining up at Le Samyn on Tuesday.”
“These are old, challenging races across tough terrain and usually raced in even tougher conditions and it will be a stern test for us. But we have a strong team in support of Matyas with Alessandro & Filippo in good shape after Valenciana and Provence. I’m happy that we can give our younger riders more experience in one day racing, it’s up to them to make the most of it.”
For Kopecky, fresh from top ten finishes at the recent Tour de La Provence and at season opener the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana, the form is good, and the signs are positive going into the first of the big goals of 2025.
“For me the Spring Classics are always the most exciting part of the season,” said Kopecky. “We have two races in the legs now and overall, the feeling is really good. I’ve trained well since Provence, no sickness, no interruptions just focused every day and I’m very motivated and happy to go back to Belgium to race and absorb the special feeling of competing there.”
“Le Samyn is always a tough race with a hectic final, extremely strong competition and we’re under no false impressions about what we are up against, but I’m confident we can get a good result on Tuesday. The team is strong, we know our roles and objectives and I can’t wait to get back racing on the cobbles again.”
Antipodeans Hamish Beadle and Declan Irvine return to racing and complete the team alongside Veronese Umberto Poli and Belgian Quinten De Graeve.
Team Novo Nordisk at Ename Samyn Classic, Tuesday 4th March:
Hamish Beadle (NZ, 26)
Quinten De Graeve (BEL, 24)
Declan Irvine (AUS, 25)
Matyas Kopecky (CZ. 22)
Alessandro Perracchione (IT, 20)
Umberto Poli (IT, 27)
Filippo Ridolfo (IT, 23)