Team Novo Nordisk Targets Tour of California As Race of the Year
The Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) announced yesterday that Team Novo Nordisk is one of the 16 teams invited to the 12th edition of the Tour of California
Team Novo Nordisk CEO and Co-Founder Phil Southerland commented "As a US-registered team, the Tour of California serves as one of the most prestigious and sought after races in professional cycling. The race broadcast reaches more than 200 countries and territories worldwide, and historically our riders have garnered massive media attention from starring in breakaways and earning podium finishes. The Tour of California offers us an amazing opportunity to reach the 29 million Americans with diabetes, the 86 million Americans who have prediabetes and the 415 million cases of diabetes globally."
"This project serves as a global source of hope for anyone affected by diabetes and as a motivating factor for everyone to get out and exercise. With the upgrade to World Tour status, the Tour of California is one of the top races in the world in regards to caliber, beauty, reach and prestige. We are motivated to use this platform to inspire, educate and empower the global audience that follows the race and everyone affected by diabetes."
Team Novo Nordisk General Manager Vassili Davidenko said "For the fourth-consecutive year, it is an enormous honor to receive an invitation to the Tour of California, and we are grateful to the ASO for extending this invite. Our riders are targeting this as the race of the year."
"Since the beginning of 2017, we’ve designed our calendar and coaching to peak at this race. The Tour of California has treated us well, and we plan to build upon those results. We are bringing a squad that has made measurable physical improvements over the last year, and we believe that arriving in peak form will translate into notable results."
Team Novo Nordisk (USA) will join Cofidis, Solutions Crédits (FRA), UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team (USA), Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis (USA) and Rally Cycling (USA) along with 11 WorldTour teams it was announced this week.