TNN return to Romania after Tuscan training camp
29 June 2022
The worlds first all diabetes professional cycling team return to racing this week at the four day Sibiu Cycling Tour in Romania after a three week break from competition that saw Team Novo Nordisk head to southern Tuscany for a mid-season performance camp.
Spanish climber David Lozano will lead the line alongside former Hungarian champion Peter Kusztor and young Czech neo pro Matyas Kopecky.
“It’s going to be nice to get back to racing,” said General Manager Vassilii Davidenko. “Gaps in the calendar can be a good break for the guys to recover after intense racing periods, but they can also produce a negative effect if the guys lose too much racing rhythm. That’s why we decided to bring everyone together at our Tuscany camp to regroup, reset and enjoy training together again.”
“Tying our pro camp in with our Talent ID camp was a lot of fun and hopefully really positive for everyone. To be able to bring on the next generation of athletes who live with diabetes and give them a first hand insight into how we work in the pro team is something we’re really grateful to be able to do. Carrying this positive energy into the Sibiu Tour is our next goal and we are looking forward to getting going on Saturday.”
New Zealander Hamish Beadle has been enjoying a solid 2022 campaign so far and brings his infectious energy to the Romanian race with Brit Sam Brand buoyed by recent selection for the upcoming Commonwealth Games and French climber Lucas Dauge completing the line-up.
“We’re ready to get going again,” began Lozano. “Our Italian training camp was really good, and it was great for the whole team to be together in one place again for the first time since January and seeing the new kids coming through as part of the Talent ID program was inspiring, they have all their dreams ahead of them and their energy was fantastic.”
“I had good legs at Adriatica-Ionica and we’re at that stage of the season where it’s important to start turning good legs into results, so I hope we can pick it up again in Romania. It’s a tough race, bookended with time trials, but the key stage will be stage 3 with the climb up to Balea Lac. We did it last year and it’s unforgettable. An epic climb and such a beautiful road, that’s where the race will be decided, and the goal is to be in good shape when we hit the slopes.”
Five stages split over four days of racing and starting with a fast prologue over the cobbles in the historic center of Sibiu, this year’s edition includes the race defining climb up to Balea Lac with its ‘Stelvio-like’ hairpins on stage three and a two-part final stage around Sibiu that begins with a morning time trial before concluding with a 99km road stage.
Sibiu Tour 2nd – 5th July:
Hamish Beadle (NZL, 24)
Sam Brand (GBR, 31)
Lucas Dauge (FR, 25)
Matyas Kopecky (CZ, 19)
Peter Kusztor (HUN, 37)
David Lozano (ESP, 33)
Stages:
Saturday 2nd July, Stage 1- Prologue: Sibiu, 2.3km
Sunday 3rd July, Stage 2: Brezoi – Sibiu, 206.9km
Monday 4th July, Stage 3: Sibiu – Balea Lac, 182km
Tuesday 5th July, Stage 4a: Curmatura Stezii – Arena Platos Paltinis, 12.5km (ITT)
Stage 4b: Sibiu, 99km