Team Novo Nordisk 2024 season to start in Spain at Valenciana

29 January 2024

Team Novo Nordisk is ready to kick off the 2024 race season next week at the five day Volta a la Communitat Valenciana stage race in Spain.

The world’s first all diabetes professional cycling team will be looking to make a positive start at the hilly race and take advantage of the early sprint opportunities with Czech dynamo Matyas Kopecky, and Italian Filippo Rodolfo focused on picking up where he left off in 2023 with more breakaway action. The experience of classy Catalan climber David Lozano will be invaluable as he takes up the mantel of captain on roads that run close to home.

“It feels like it’s been a long break from racing,” said General Manager Vassili Davidenko. “And we know how important it is to start our season in a positive way not only mentally but by showing our ambition with good performances.”

“This may be our first appearance at the Volta a la Communitat Valenciana, but we already know how tough a race it will be. Matyas and Filippo both had excellent seasons last year and we’ll be looking to them to lead from the front again this season. The first races of the year are also excellent opportunities for our neo pros to learn and show that they are ready to make the step up.”

French climber Lucas Dauge and Dutch pair Gerd de Keijzer and Jan Dunnewind also line up in Spain with first year professional Nathan Smith making his full senior debut.

“For sure this will be a hard test for us, but basically I can’t wait to get racing again and I’m raring to go,” said Kopecky. “Personally I’ve had a really good winter and focused on training and my preparation and after a great team get together in Altea over the last two weeks, we are ready to go.”

“There’s a lot of climbing in the race, but also one or two chances where we see opportunities for sprint finales and of course those opportunities depend on how the stages play out, but it’s our goal to be up there when the time comes.”

Team Novo Nordisk at the Volta a la Communitat Valenciana, 31st January – 4th February:

Lucas Dauge (FR, 27)

Gerd de Keijzer (NED,30)

Jan Dunnewind (NED, 25)

Matyas Kopecky (CZ, 21)

David Lozano (ESP, 35)

Filippo Ridolfo (IT, 22)

Nathan Smith (GBR, 23)

Stages:

Wednesday 31st January, Stage 1: Benicássim – Castellón, 167km

Thursday 1st February, Stage 2: Canals – Mancom De La Valldigna, 162.7km

Friday 2nd February, Stage 3: San Vicente Del Raspeig – Orihuela, 161.3km