Team Novo Nordisk ready to roll in return to the Tour of Turkey

09 April 2021

Team Novo Nordisk head east next week for a return appearance at the 58^th edition of the Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey with the US ProTeam on the hunt for breakaway action and solid stage results.

First held way back in 1963, the eight-day tour has developed into a challenging and well-respected stage race that usually forms part of the busy Spring racing calendar.

The world’s first all diabetes professional cycling team last raced here back in 2015 and claimed an impressive top ten result overall with Javier Megias. This time around the focus will be on stages and getting up the road in the thick of the breakaway action that will surely unfold over the variety of terrain on offer.

“We are looking forward to going back to race at the Tour of Turkey,” said General Manager Vassili Davidenko. “It is a hard race, challenging, but also full of opportunities for us and an event that we enjoy being part of.”

“The race is tough, but we’ve done a solid preparation over the wintertime and we are ready for it. We plan to test ourselves with breakaway opportunities, as well as try positioning well in General Classification.”

Fresh from igniting the fires of the breakaway at Milan – San Remo, Andrea Peron will be on the look-out for opportunities in the sprints while experienced climbers David Lozano and Peter Kusztor turn their attention to rolling, uphill stages with Italy’s Umberto Poli and Finland’s Joonas Henttala providing strong support.

After coming through the ranks of the Team Novo Nordisk development team, new signing Logan Phippen is set to make his debut for the senior pro team and Swiss all-rounder Oliver Behringer also gets his 2021 season underway.

“I feel like I have been waiting and working towards this moment for a long time,” began Phippen. “Now it’s finally here I feel very excited and motivated to perform well for the team at the Tour of Turkey.”

“Turkey has always been a special place for me, and I am thrilled to be able to initiate my debut as a professional at the Tour of Turkey,” began Phippen. “I have prepared as well as possible and the sensations are really quite good. I am going into this race avoiding the pressure of it being my first race as a professional and instead welcoming it with the same intensity and motivation, as I have always entered races.”

The last words fell to Lozano who placed 38^th overall in Turkey back in 2014 and is looking forward to getting another chance to race on Turkish roads.

“I remember the race very well,” explained Lozano. “This year will be my fourth time here and I’m really happy to be back in the race!”

Team Novo Nordisk at the Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey, April 11^th – 18^th:

Oliver Behringer (SUI, 24)

Joonas Henttala (FIN, 29)

David Lozano (ESP, 32)

Peter Kusztor (HUN, 36)

Andrea Peron (IT, 32)

Logan Phippen (USA, 29)

Umberto Poli (IT, 24)

Tour of Turkey stages:

Sunday April 11^th: Stage 1, Nevshir – Urgrup, 167.3km

Monday April 12^th: Stage 2, Konya – Konya, 144.9km