Team Novo Nordisk head to Oviedo and La Vuelta Asturias
26 April 2023
Team Novo Nordisk switch attention to Spain this week as the world’s first all diabetes professional cycling team prepares to hit the climbs at the 65th edition of the Vuelta Asturias Julio Alvarez Mendo.
After a packed spring campaign in northern Europe, TNN headed south to the recent Giro di Sicilia which saw veteran Hungarian Peter Kusztor in strong form and French puncheur Charles Planet make a positive return to action. Both are set to join Italian sprinter Andrea Peron and Spanish climber David Lozano in northern Spain.
“I like the Vuelta Asturias very much,” said General Manager Vassili Davidenko. “It’s a tough, hilly race and marks the start of our next block of racing and objectives. After a couple of good results at the recent Giro di Sicilia its going to be good to line up at another stage race before we head to Hungary in two weeks time.”
“We’re happy to welcome Andrea back after the recent birth of his second child because we’re in an important part of the season now. Where we need to utilize the depth in our roster and our captains to be racing. But this also provides opportunities to perform for the guys who haven’t raced as much as their teammates and they need to show their hunger.”
Former Finnish Road champion Joonas Henttala and experienced Manxman Sam Brand complete the team alongside second year Dutch pro Jan Dunnewind, set to make his first appearance of the 2023 season.
“It’s going to be good to get back to racing,” said Peron. “I have had an amazing couple of weeks at home with my family, we’re all well and the training has been going good, but I need to get back into the intensity of racing now and pick the rhythm back up.”
“Vuelta Asturias is just the kind of race that will help me do that, because it’s three days of super hard terrain and we will suffer. That will make us stronger and hopefully we can achieve our objectives along the way.”
Team Novo Nordisk at Vuelta Asturias Julio Alvarez Mendo, 28th – 30th April:
Sam Brand (GBR, 32)
Jan Dunnewind (NED, 24)
Joonas Henttala (FIN, 31)
David Lozano (ESP, 34)
Peter Kusztor (HUN, 38)
Andrea Peron (IT, 34)
Charles Planet (FR, 29)
Stages:
Friday 28th April, Stage 1: Oviedo – Pola de Lena, 181km
Saturday 29th April. Stage 2: Candás – Cangas del Narcea, 183km
Sunday 30th April, Stage 3: Cangas del Narcea – Oviedo, 147km