It was a historic day for Team Novo Nordisk, the world’s first all-diabetes pro cycling team, when four of its riders became the first cyclists with diabetes to finish Milan-San Remo. Additionally, Team Novo Nordisk’s Andrea Peron rode for most of the day in the main breakaway at the iconic Italian one-day race.

“We just finished our first ever Milan-San Remo and I am so proud of our riders for being the first athletes with diabetes to finish an epic race like this one,” Team Novo Nordisk CEO and co-founder Phil Southerland said. “Today was an amazing day for Andrea Peron. To see him star in the breakaway in his home country was a dream come true for him and me and everyone at Team Novo Nordisk. These guys proved what may be possible with diabetes on a World Tour level.”

At Sunday’s race, the pace was high from the start of the 293-kilometer race. Team Novo Nordisk launched the first set of attacks to ensure one of its riders made it into the breakaway. The teamwork paid off when Peron and three other riders escaped and quickly built a gap of 45 seconds. Soon seven additional riders bridged up to make a break of 11 riders. The group earned a maximum gap of 10 minutes as they raced through heavy rains, but when they reached the final climbs, the group splintered. All escapees were eventually swept up as the race climbed into Cipressa. By the final 15 km, the peloton shrunk even further, and a group of approximately 30 riders sprinted for the finish in San Remo with John Degenkolb (Team Giant-Alpecin) taking the win.

“The weather made a big difference today, but up until 35 km remaining, everything was going according to plan. Andrea was in the breakaway and Javier Megias was well protected in the main group,” Team Novo Nordisk General Manager Vassili Davidenko explained. “In the end, it is a long day and the weather took its toll on Javier. If it was warmer, we might have had a different race. Overall, our Milan-San Remo debut was a success and we will come back next year with even more confidence and try again.”

John Degenkolb (Team Giant-Alpecin) took the win with Alexander Kristoff (Team Katusha) coming in second and Michael Matthews (Orica-Greenedge) finishing in third.

Team Novo Nordisk continues racing at the Tour de Taiwan on Monday with Stage 2, which runs from Taoyuan City to Jiaobanshan Park.