Team Novo Nordisk start 2025 season at Valenciana
03 February 2025
‘The seasons come, the seasons go,’ and a fresh one is already upon is as Team Novo Nordisk prepare to start the new year’s racing at this week’s Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana in Spain.
Five days of tough racing begins with a 34km Team Time Trial in Orihuela before heading straight onto the well known climbs of the Costa Blanca for the next three days ahead of the solitary sprint day in Valencia on stage five.
Precocious Czech talent Matyas Kopecky will lead the line, aiming for a strong performance on that fifth stage, with support coming from neo pros Hamish Armitt and Bailey McDonald, both set to make their professional debuts after showing promising signs at the pre-season camp.
“A new season is finally upon us and we’re ready to race again!” began General Manager Vassili Davidenko. “We have done a lot of work and preparation during the off season, and we go into the Volta a La Communitat Valenciana straight from a very productive training camp in Alicante. The team is in good shape and with five new riders coming in this year, we have really youthful flavor to the team.”
“Both Bailey and Hamish have performed very well during camp and they come straight into the team to support Matyas. We know how tough Valenciana is, but it’s important for us to start our season well and I’m eager to see what we can do when the flag drops on Wednesday.”
Debutants Armitt and McDonald both joined the world’s first all diabetes professional cycling team after impressing at the annual Talent ID camp last July and are excited to be pulling the jersey on for the first time.
“I’m both excited and nervous for the oppurtunity to make my debut here in Valenciana,” said McDonald. “It’s been a productive 10 days at camp, and I feel like I’m in good shape, but very aware of the enormity of the challenge of racing in the professional peloton for the first time. This will be a great opportunity to learn and try to adapt to the new level, I’m really looking forward to it.”
For Armitt the thoughts and sensations are understandably similar to McDonald with the main goal and challenge being adapting to the demands of racing at the highest level.
“I’m feeling confident in my physical shape heading into Valenciana,” said the Glaswegian. “I think the big challenge for me will be adapting to the peloton and the high level of racing. There are a lot of nuances I need to learn, but it’s a great chance to see where I stand in the bunch, how I compare and what I need to improve on and build on for the rest of the season.”
A balanced squad is completed by Italian breakaway specialist Filippo Ridolfo, compatriot Antonio Polga, versatile Australian Declan Irvine and Brit Nathan Smith.
Team Novo Nordisk at Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana, 5th – 9th February:
Hamish Armitt (GBR, 22)
Declan Irvine (AUS, 26)
Matyas Kopecky (CZ, 22)
Bailey McDonald (AUS, 21)
Antonio Polga (IT, 25)
Filippo Ridolfo (IT, 23)
Nathan Smith (GBR, 24)
Stages:
Wednesday 5th February, Stage 1: Orihuela, 34.3km (TTT)
Thursday 6th February, Stage 2: La Nucia – Benifato, 166km
Friday 7th February, Stage 3: Algemesi – Alpuente, 180.3km
Saturday 8th February, Stage 4: Oropesa del Mar – Portell de Morella, 181km
Sunday 9th February, Stage 5: Alfafar – Valencia, 104.1km