Team Novo Nordisk and Colnago Extend Partnership Through 2021

ATLANTA, July 31, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Team Novo Nordisk, the world's first all-diabetes professional cycling team, and renowned Italian bike manufacturer, Colnago, announced Wednesday the extension of Colnago serving as the team's official bike sponsor through the 2021 season. Team Novo Nordisk first raced on Colnago bikes in 2013, its first professional season, and has continuously raced on the iconic Italian brand since 2016.

"When you race against the best in the sport, you need the top, most reliable equipment. Colnago is one of the most respected bike brands in the world, which they achieved through their outstanding quality and lengthy winning history," said Team Novo Nordisk General Manager Vassili Davidenko. "We use the Concept and C64 both built to withstand the demands of the hardest races. You can fully trust these bikes on any terrain thanks to their high-quality carbon fiber and cutting-edge aero design. This makes a bike that's stiff, light and phenomenally responsive. Thanks Maestro Colnago for letting us use the most desirable bikes in the world for the coming years."

Team Novo Nordisk's men's professional team currently races on Colnago's C64 and Concept bikes on the road and the K-Zero during time trials. For the 2020 season, the team will transition exclusively over to the C64s for the road.

"For more than 50 years, Colnago has been one of the most innovative brands in bike racing and with the C64, they have crafted the lightest, fastest and most comfortable bike in the pro peloton," said Team Novo Nordisk CEO and Co-Founder Phil Southerland. "Colnago's iconic bikes have empowered Team Novo Nordisk athletes and the more than 437 million people living with diabetes to get outside and chase their dreams, and we look forward to keep sharing our mission to inspire, educate and empower people around the world affected by diabetes. All of us at Team Novo Nordisk are honored to ride Ernesto's bikes."

The team has had its most successful season to date with Andrea Peron (ITA) sprinting to eighth place on Stage 7 of the Tour of California, the team's best finish at a World Tour race in its seven-year history.

"We are proud and happy to continue working with Team Novo Nordisk," said Ernesto Colnago, Founder of Colnago. "Since the beginning, we have been passionate to support Team Novo Nordisk and its healthy values around sport and exercise. We are eager to watch the team continue to grow and want to send the best of luck to all the riders and staff."

Additional standouts from the 2019 season include David Lozano (ESP) taking fifth on Stage 4 of the Tour du Rwanda and going on to finish sixth overall, Charles Planet (FRA) powering to fourth in the Tour of Estonia Prologue, and Peron earning third on Stage 1, fourth on Stage 2 and eighth overall at the Tour of Estonia. Additionally, Planet wore the Intermediate Sprint Jersey four consecutive days at the UAE Tour and earned the Most Aggressive Rider jersey following a late-race solo attack on the opening stage of the Tour of California. Finally, Lozano won the overall KOM jersey at the Tour of Taiyuan after wearing the jersey from Stage 2 until the end of the six-day Chinese race.

Since 1954, Colnago has been a world leader in innovative bike design. For over 65 years, Colnago has pushed the boundaries in cycling manufacturing and is known for its stiffer, faster and lighter race bikes. In 51 years of sponsorships, the first with Molteni in 1968, Colnago has worked with more than 200 professional teams and more than 5,000 athletes.

About Team Novo Nordisk
Team Novo Nordisk is a global all-diabetes sports team of cyclists spearheaded by the world's first all-diabetes UCI Professional Continental cycling team. In 2012, Phil Southerland, co-founder and CEO of the team, and global healthcare company Novo Nordisk, came together to create Team Novo Nordisk, based on a shared vision to inspire, educate and empower people around the world affected by diabetes. For more information, go to http://www.teamnovonordisk.com.

About Colnago
Colnago is an Italian company established by Ernesto Colnago in 1954. During the last 65 years, Colnago has sponsored some of the best riders in the world. Eddy Merckx and the Molteni team, the Mapei armada and Rabobank are just some of the teams that have ridden Colnago bikes.

Media Contacts:
Fitzalan Crowe for Team Novo Nordisk
[email protected]
+1-703-596-2020

Alessandro Turci for Colnago
[email protected]

SOURCE Team Novo Nordisk