CYCLING

Team Novo Nordisk re-signs Ambrose and two Australians for 2016

By Aaron S Lee

Kiwi Scott Ambrose and Aussies Chris Williams and James Glasspool all make Novo Nordisk 2016 roster.

NEW ORLEANS—Auckland’s Scott Ambrose was rewarded for an impactful first full season with US-based Pro Continental squad Team Novo Nordisk with a one-year contract extension, along with Australians Chris Williams (QLD) and James Glasspool (SA).

I am very happy to be riding with Team Novo Nordisk again in 2016,” said Ambrose, a former rugby player and triathlete who was diagnosed with Type I diabetes in 2012 before joining Team Novo Nordisk – the world's first all-diabetes professional cycling team – last year.

“I feel this team has a great future and I can develop myself further as a rider and a leader in the team in the years to come. I look forward to riding some of the major races in the teams season next year and improve on my 2015 season.”



The 20-year-old Ambrose kicked off the season in February with a points classification jersey and a stage win – the team’s first – at Le Tour de Filipina (UCI 2.2) before captaining his squad at Tour de Taiwan (2.1) and the Tour of Turkey (2.HC), where 32-year-old teammate Javier Mejías (ESP) finished 10th overall.

“My first full year as a pro has been a massive learning experience,” Ambrose admitted to NZ Bike. “I started the year off with some great form winning a stage and the green jersey in the Philippines and having good ride in the Tour of Turkey where our team leader Javi came in the top 10. I also had a lot of bad luck with crashes and consistency so I will look to improve on that in 2016.

Exhaustion got the better of Ambrose at the Tour of California (2.HC), before most recently returning from injury to race Tour of Hainan (2.HC) and Tour of Taihu Lake (2.1).

“Racing in Hainan was really good,” said Ambrose, a former Junior Tour of Canberra winner (2011). “I had a big break from racing and training due to a fractured tibia in my leg which I sustained in a training crash. 

“I came into the race with my form unknown. 

“The racing was very fast with a lot of teams with sprinters wanting a bunch sprint,” he continued. “Our team had Martijn Verschoor (NED) who we worked for all week where he managed numerous top 10 finishes.”


For 33-year-old Williams, who finished inside the top 20 (19th) on general classification at the recent Tour of China I (2.1), next year will be his fourth on the squad since moving over from Continental team Champion System in 2011, while it will be 24-year-old Glasspool’s second season with the team.

In order to become a member of Team Novo Nordisk, all athletes must have diabetes. Since its launch in December 2012, the organisation has focused heavily on identifying and developing endurance athletes from around the world with diabetes, building junior and development squads totalling 30 athletes.

Aside from re-signing the Tasman trio, Novo Nordisk will race its fourth season with a roster of 18 athletes from 10 countries. The total number of French and Dutch riders on the pro squad increases to four each, as Mehdi Benhamouda (FRA) moves up from the development team and stagiaire, Brian Kamstra (NED), joins the pro ranks for the 2016 season.



“I think the future of the team is looking good,” claimed Ambrose. “We are a young team in terms of experience and every race we get stronger. 

“It has been our best season to date and I look forward to see what we can achieve in 2016.”

The full 2016 roster includes:
Andrea Peron – ITA
Ben Dilley – USA
Brian Kamstra – NED
Charles Planet – FRA
Chris Williams – AUS
Corentin Cherhal - FRA
David Lozano – ESP
Gerd de Keijzer - NED
James Glasspool - AUS
Javier Mejías – ESP
Joonas Henttala – FIN
Kevin De Mesmaeker – BEL
Martijn Verschoor – NED
Mehdi Benhamouda - FRA
Nicolas Lefrançois – FRA
Ruud Cremers – NED
Scott Ambrose – NZL
 

Aaron S. Lee is a cycling and triathlon columnist for Eurosport and a guest contributor to NZ Bike Magazine
Image credit: Daebong Kim