MEET THE TEAM…

ANDREA PERON – KEVIN DE MESMAEKER – JAVIER MEGIAS

CHARLES PLANET – DAVID LOZANO – JOONAS HENTTALA

LONDON CALLING…

This time last year Team Novo Nordisk, the pro cycling team where all the riders have Type 1 Diabetes, debuted at the Tour of Britain. We covered their story in Issue 5 as we met them in Liverpool ahead of Stage 1. By their own admission it was a baptism of fire. The young team lacked experience and were nervous of the narrow and grippy roads, the unpredictable weather, the smaller team size (6) and of course the fierce level of competition they would encounter. They each battled bravely every day, but in the end they held on to come home 19th of 20 teams.

The experience, however, was invaluable. Five of the same six-man team returned to do battle for the 2015 edition of the race. More confident and determined to try to animate the race rather than just hold on, the boys managed to improve their overall standing this year. By the end of the London stage the guys had secured 16th position – a great improvement on last time out on the island.

We had the great pleasure to meet the guys again during the early stages of this year’s Tour and again in the Capital. Here’s what they had to say about their return to the Tour of Britain. Take a look at our TNN slideshow below too.

VIDEO INTERVIEWS WITH RIDERS & STAFF…

GALLERY…

In issue 5, which will be published in November, we will run an in-depth feature on the former Team Type 1, now called Team Novo Nordisk. We gained a fascinating insight through meeting one of their key riders and the team doctor as they prepared to start the eight-day Tour of Britain in Liverpool. Every rider in this unique team has the condition Type 1 diabetes. They each face a personal daily challenge to manage their condition, which makes performing at the top level of pro-cycling even more demanding.

Through their racing they prove, especially to young recently diagnosed sufferers, that people with the condition need not live a life bound by limitations. Each one of the riders has a unique tale about how they discovered their condition, how it changed their lives, and how their friends, family and colleagues react to the news. We speak to Finnish all-rounder Joonas Hattala about his story and also find out from the team’s Medical Director Rafael Castol what it takes to manage the condition through racing, training and even resting.

Whilst the riders are a true inspiration to Type 1 diabetes sufferers we also found them to be great role models for just about everyone, with simple lifestyle lessons on diet and exercise that we can all benefit from. Watch out for them during the rest of the season as they strive for their first top level victory and follow their good work globally through the hashtag #ChangingDiabetes

Below is a small gallery of images of the team at the Tour of Britain.