Diabetes team has final paperwork completed after being missing from initial list
Team Type 1-Sanofi has successfully completed the necessary paperwork required by the International Cycling Union (UCI) and will compete as a Professional Continental team for its second season in 2012. The team, which seeks to “instil hope and inspiration for people around the world affected by diabetes”, was not on the initial list of ProConti teams released by the UCI last week, but has since completed the missing items necessary.
"There was some minor concern from our fans last week when the UCI announced its preliminary registry of top teams,” said General Manager Vassili Davidenko, “but there were loose ends in some of the banking paperwork, and we spent a few extra days working closely with the coordinators in Switzerland to cross the Ts and dot the Is. I'm very happy to say that the extra work paid off and our re-registration as a Pro Continental team went off without a hitch."
Initially created in 2005 the team became professional, with an American Continental license in 2008; it stepped up to Professional Continental status in 2011, with a more international roster, and managed to secure invitations to some of the sport’s biggest races.
Six of Team Type 1-Sanofi’s 22-man roster have Type 1 Diabetes, and have to monitor their blood-glucose throughout competition; diabetic riders are give therapeutic use exemptions (TUEs) under the UCI’s “no-needles” policy.
"We get the chance as athletes to spread a message of hope for people with diabetes,” said team CEO Phil Southerland. “With good control, a healthy diet and plenty of exercise you can manage this disease and live an extraordinary life, and next year Team Type 1-Sanofi will build on our strengths and successes and line up to race in some of the best bike races in the world, with some of the world's best professional cyclists, to continue our outreach into the diabetes community."
Unlike most teams, at this time of year, Team Type 1-Sanofi is still racing, and will compete in the Tour of Rwanda at the end of the month.
"Rwanda for us is really at the very heart of our organization,” said Southerland. “We race against a very tough field on a very hilly course in a beautiful African country, and at the same time we bring over enough donated diabetes test strips and glucose meters to help almost 650 young type 1 Rwandans live better lives. When we leave, a mechanism remains in place to distribute the supplies equitably and continue to educate health care providers in detection and care of diabetes patients. For us Rwanda is a win-win.
"Next year we will triple our race calendar around the globe, building on a 2011 season that saw us in China, India, Australia, Turkey, South Africa, Singapore, Korea, all across Europe and at home in the biggest races in the United States,” he continued. “We have new riders from France, Norway, Italy, Austria, Russia and America, and we're very excited to get together in Tucson with the entire Team Type 1 family of runners, triathletes, women's squad and others and prepare for the 2012 season."