Ulugbek Saidov

PROFILE

Returning to the Team Novo Nordisk line up for 2023 is Uzbekistan’s Ulugbek Saidov after a 2022 season spent racing and furthering his development with hometown Tashkent City Pro Team and achieving a bronze medal in the Uzbekistan National Championships road race, Saidov is now ready to play a supporting role for TNN.

Saidov came through the full Team Novo Nordisk pipeline, junior team, devo team before making the professional squad for the 2019 season. The then 23-year-old neo pro Ulugbek Saidov performed well in 2019 and 2020 with a strong ride for eighth place in the Uzbekistan National Road Race Championships and garnered plenty of experience at the Tour du Rwanda and both Tours of China I & II.
Along with his two brothers, the Uzbekistani experienced an active childhood in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. At nine years old, he started losing weight, had increased thirst, and experienced general malaise. When his symptoms increased, his parents took him to the hospital where he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.
Being so young, Saidov says he didn’t fully understand the diagnosis. At the time, all he comprehended was that he would have to give himself injections every day for the rest of his life. Without any family history or connection to diabetes, the diagnosis was an adjustment for his entire family, yet his parents focused on maintaining a positive outlook. Saidov soon returned to his active childhood.
In Tashkent, Uzbekistan, there is a cycling club designed for children with diabetes. Saidov joined the club when he was 15, and after a month of hard training, he entered his first bike race. Immediately, he was hooked. The following year, he attended one of Team Novo Nordisk’s talent ID camps in Athens, Georgia. Initially, he made Team Novo Nordisk’s junior team.
Thanks to his motivation and dedication, Saidov improved on both his diabetes management and bike handling skills and earned a place on Team Novo Nordisk’s development squad. During the 2017 season, he earned four top 10 finishes including finishing second on Stage 5 of the Georgia Grand Prix. In 2018, he won the Georgia State Road Race and Criterium Championships for his age group.
When he is not riding his bike, Saidov enjoys spending time at home with family and friends and appreciates a great movie.