Team Novo Nordisk returns to the home of its title sponsor, Novo Nordisk, for the 25th edition of the Tour of Denmark when it kicks off on August 4thin Struer, Denmark.

“This is our third year racing at the Tour of Denmark, so we are hoping to capitalize on our experience of the stages and tough finishing circuits,” Team Novo Nordisk Senior Vice President of Athletics Vassili Davidenko said. “It is great to race in Denmark; we see Novo Nordisk flags flying all along the course and love hearing the cheers from our fans. It motivates our riders to push that much harder.”

Eighteen teams will contest the UCI 2.HC race, including four World Tour teams. At last year’s race, Team Novo Nordisk’s Chris Williams earned the Most Aggressive Rider competition on Stage 4 following a bold late race move that saw the Australian nearly hold on for a solo win. The world’s first all-diabetes pro cycling team aims to build upon those results at this year’s race. The team’s roster features James Glasspool (AUS), Joonas Henttala (FIN), David Lozano (ESP), Javier Megias (ESP), Andrea Peron (ITA), Charles Planet (FRA), Martijn Verschoor (NED) and Chris Williams (AUS).

“We are bringing a well-rounded team with riders that can target stage wins and place highly in the overall classification,” Davidenko said. “Our sprinters, Martijn and Andrea, are in good form. Together, they will be picking their stages and looking for a top result.”

After being awarded the Most Aggressive Rider honors for his bold late-race move last year, Williams is eager for the team to earn more podium appearances at this year’s race.

Chris Williams (AUS) is awarded Most Agressive Rider on stage of last year’s Post Danmark Rundt

“Last year was quite bittersweet. I earned the most aggressive rider’s award for attacking and racing hard, but I also missed a chance to stand on the top of the podium by meters,” Williams said. “I will race aggressively again this year and hopefully we can do better. Every day, I will be looking to be in a break that makes it to the finish line, as well as supporting my teammates, so that we can give our fans something to cheer about in our ‘home’ race.”

While Team Novo Nordisk is bringing a roster deep with experience to the Danish race, one rider is making his Tour of Denmark debut: Australian, James Glasspool. The neo-pro is a five-time Australian National Track Champion, Australian Team Pursuit Champion (2010), Australian Kilometre Time Trial Champion (2012) and part of the Australian Track World Championship team (2009, 2012).

The Tour of Denmark kicks off on Tuesday, August 4th with a 180-kilometer stage that begins in Struer and heads along the North Sea before turning inland for three finishing laps around Holstebro. Stage 2 serves as the longest stage of the race at 235 km. Stage 3 is the race’s queen stage, or most challenging stage, and this year’s profile is considered the toughest stage in the race’s history. Friday includes a double-day, or a morning stage race followed by an afternoon 13.6-km time trial, before the final stage ends in Copenhagen.

Team Novo Nordisk Roster Post Danmark Rundt-Tour of Denmark (Aug 4-8):

James Glasspool (AUS), Joonas Henttala (FIN), David Lozano (ESP), Javier Megias (ESP), Andrea Peron (ITA), Charles Planet (FRA), Martijn Verschoor (NED) and Chris Williams (AUS).