Rider Profile

Returning in 2020 for his eighth season with Team Novo Nordisk is Italian fast man Andrea Peron. On the back of a consistent 2019 campaign that was complete with top 10 placings from the Amgen Tour of California in May to the Tour of Taihu Lake in October, Peron rode on the front foot with the highlight being a podium on Stage 3 of the Tour of Estonia and second in the final points classification.


The 31-year-old from the Veneto is known for his power and fearlessness in the sprints. In Team Novo Nordisk’s first year, he earned 14 top ten finishes, including podiums at Canada’s Tour de Beauce and the Tour of China. Three times Peron rode in the day’s main breakaway at the iconic one-day Italian race Milan-San Remo for most of the 298-kilometer event, proudly bringing worldwide attention to the Team Novo Nordisk jersey.


Additional highlights over his professional career include nine top 10 finishes throughout the 2019 season, a podium finish on Stage 5 of the Tour de Korea (2015), two top five placings at Brazil’s Volta Ciclística Internacional do Rio Grande do Sul (2016) and fifth place on Stage 1 of the Tour of Estonia (2018).


Peron was drawn to sports at a very early age. He enjoyed motor racing at first, but at 10, his parents found it too risky, and so he switched to cycling and soon began competing. He immediately found success and was already winning races in his first year. As he continued winning throughout Italy, he realized he might have the talent to be a professional cyclist.


At 16, when Peron was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, he thought his dream of racing was over. Fortunately, his doctor encouraged him to continue training and to use the bike as a way to manage his condition. After four successful seasons with Cyber Team-VC Breganze, the young sprinter was introduced to Team Novo Nordisk Sport Director, Massimo Podenzana, and joined the team the following season.


Off the bike, the 31-year-old enjoys relaxing at home with his family. He and his wife are proud parents of a son.


"At the end of the season, I would be happy if we can reach all the goals that the team and I have in mind both personally and professionally."

Best Performances

2015

  • 4th – Tour de Korea, Stage 2
  • 3rd – Tour de Korea, Stage 5
    8th – Amgen Tour of California, Stage 8

2013

  • 9th – Post Danmark Rundt, Stage 1
  • 3rd – Tour de Beauce, Stage 1
  • 8th – USA Pro Challenge, Stage 7
  • 3rd – Tour of China I, Stage 1
  • 3rd – Tour of China I, Stage 3

2010

  • 1st – Astico-Brenta

Q&A

Diabetes Q&A


Tell us about when you were diagnosed and how you found out?


I had not been feeling good for a couple of months- nothing too bad, but I wasn’t feeling 100%.


Eventually, I began to have trouble seeing, and I had to pee every ten minutes and drink a lot.


What was your initial reaction?


I didn’t know anything about diabetes, so in the beginning I was confused


How did your family/friends/fellow athletes react?


My family was worried at the beginning, of course. And for a while, the only person outside of my family who knew that I had diabetes was my cycling director.


Did you think your days as an athlete were over? Did others? What did your doctor say?


My doctor immediately told me that my days as an athlete were not over.


For those diagnosed after they started cycling: What was it like riding with diabetes and how did you adjust?


I was diagnosed in the off-season, so I had some time to learn a little bit about managing diabetes.


TNN_AndreaPeron_ITA_Type1_0193_v1_currentSports Q&A


Tell us about how you got started in your sport. 


My father used to ride the bike, just for fun. And I used to see him ride the bike and watch some races on TV, and I decided to start. At first, my dream was to ride a motorbike, but after a while I got started with cycling.


When did you start competing?


I began when I was about 10-11 years old.


How/when did you know cycling was something you wanted to do professionally?


When I began to win a lot of races in U23 category, I knew wanted to become a professional. And I began to have reach out to some pro teams.


What do you think is your biggest achievement in your athletic career?


The knowledge that, when I’m riding my best, I can be in the top ten at major races.


Being part of Team Novo Nordisk


How did you come to join Team Novo Nordisk?


My ex-director put me in touch with Directeur Sportif, Massimo Podenzana.


How has your life changed since you joined the team (both as an athlete and as a person)?


I am more mature as a result of being a pro cyclist. I need to travel a lot and this allows you to know how the world runs, and, because cycling is my work, I‘ve learned to do the life of a cyclist life at 100%.


Off the bike (Other Interests)


How do you spend your time when you’re not training or racing? Any other passions?


I like to spend time at home with my family and friends.


What do you want to do when you retire?


I’d like to own a gym or a bar, something like that.


What are the three most important things in your life?



  1. Family

  2. Satisfaction

  3. Success


Married? Kids? Pets?


I’m not married: I have one dog.


Featured

Peron and Planet hit the gas in the final sprint and Kusztor holds firm in the GC in Slovakia

Race: Okolo Slovenska Start/Finish: Topolcianky – Skalica Distance: 171.1km   Andrea Peron   “I’ve been frustrated recently with my sprint, there’s been a few occasions where I felt I could have done better and wasn’t really sure why and today I felt a lot better, I had the power and decent positioning which enabled me to get…

Crash disrupts Peron’s chances in Hungary and Lozano holds on to red on stage three

Race: Tour de Hongrie Start/Finish: Karcag – Nyiregyhaza Distance: 180km Andrea Peron, ITA “It’s really frustrating to have crashed today, I was feeling good and determined to break into the top ten, but a group of riders went down in front of me and I couldn’t avoid them and hit the deck too.” “I banged…

 

Tour de Hongrie – Stage 2 Recap with Andrea Peron

Tour de Hongrie, Stage 2. Lozano retains red in the Hungarian heat and Peron sprints into the Top 20Watch this video on YouTube

Lozano retains red in the Hungarian heat and Peron sprints into the top 20

Race: Tour de Hongrie Start/Finish: Debrecen – Hajduszobos Distance: 158km   Andrea Peron “It was a really hot stage today over 35 degrees and with it being so flat and open there literally no shelter, but the team did a great job of looking after me right into the final and I have to thank…