Months-long rumours that the Team Type 1 – Sanofi squad would be comprised entirely of diabetic riders from 2013 onwards were confirmed today when the team was re-launched with that modified focus and a new title sponsor on board.
Backed by the Danish-based Novo Nordisk brand, a global healthcare company, some details emerged of the new setup. Titled Team Novo Nordisk, the pro cycling squad will be just one element of a global sports team which will include more than 100 athletes in total; apart from cyclists, these will also include triathletes and runners.
Team Type 1 featured several diabetic riders in 2012 but more than half of the 22-man squad did not have the condition. It remains to be seen if the released riders will all gain alternative employment for next season.
Of the riders on this year’s team, Alexander Serebryakov was the most successful in terms of wins, with the Russian clocking up eleven victories. These included the Philadelphia International Championship plus stages of the Tours of China, Korea, Hainan and Taihu Lake.
Aldo Ino Ilešič clocked up stage wins in the Tour of China I, the Tour de Rio and the Tour of Qinghai Lake. Other wins were also taken by Jure Kocjan, Daniele Colli, Alessandro Bazzana and Vegard Stake Laengen.
All of those will now leave the team due to the new policy. Serebryakov and Kocjan are going to Euskaltel-Euskadi, Ilešič will move with Bazzana to UnitedHealthcare, while Colli’s next team has not been indicated as yet.
Five riders from the 2012 roster had diabetes; these were Fabio Calabria, Joe Eldridge, Javier Megias, Alex Bowden and Martijn Verschoor.
The identities of the new riders remain to be confirmed but VeloNation understands that Irishman Stephen Clancy will be one of those stepping up.
According to Velochrono, Kevin de Mesmaeker, Andrea Ciacchini, Thomas Raeymaekers and Andrea Peron will also be coming on board.
VeloNation has sought clarification of the full roster situation from the team’s founder Phil Southerland. The squad was recently confirmed as securing a UCI Pro Continental licence for the coming season.
According to today’s announcement, the team will compete in USA Pro Cycling Challenge, the Tour of Britain and Paris-Tours in 2013, and has a longer-term goal of riding the Tour de France in several years’ time.
“As Team Novo Nordisk we want to show the world what is possible with great diabetes control,” said Southerland. “Between us, Team Novo Nordisk has over 1,000 diagnosed years of diabetes with no complications and we stand for what life with diabetes can be like,”
He described exercise as a ‘billion dollar drug,’ but says it is never prescribed for those with diabetes. The team is trying to change that approach.