Team Novo Nordisk, the world’s first all-diabetes pro cycling team, is set to compete at its first Tour of Norway, a five-day race that begins in Årnes on Wednesday May 20th.

“The Tour of Norway brings together a very strong field and is a great opportunity for our younger riders to race at a high level,” Team Novo Nordisk General Manager Vassili Davidenko said. “We are looking forward to our first ever race in Norway.”

In its fifth edition, the 2.HC ranked Tour of Norway attracts six World Tour teams and eight Pro Continental teams, featuring some of the sport’s top talent. Over five stages, the riders will contest 908 kilometers of racing across Norway’s famously rugged landscape. Team Novo Nordisk’s roster features Stephen Clancy (IRL), Gerd de Keijzer (NED), James Glasspool (AUS), Nicolas Lefrançois (FRA), Martijn Verschoor (NED) and Chris Williams (AUS).

“Martijn Verschoor has great form currently so we’ll be hoping for a little luck in the sprints,” Davidenko said. “We plan to race aggressively and it is important for our young riders to test themselves in breakaways.”

A member of Team Novo Nordisk since 2013, Stephen Clancy was one of Ireland’s top cycling prospects as a junior racer. However, when Clancy signed with his first professional team, a routine test revealed abnormal blood sugar levels. In the hospital, Clancy was diagnosed with diabetes and advised to stop cycling competitively. Within 24 hours of his discharge, Clancy had discovered Team Novo Nordisk and was motivated to keep training. Just a few months later, the Irishman was invited to train with the team and eventually signed a pro contract.

“I’ll be looking to make it into the breakaways and support Martijn where I can,” Clancy said. “We are all looking forward to racing in Norway, as it is always a great opportunity for the team to debut in a new country.”

The 2015 Tour of Norway kicks off northeast of Oslo with a 182-km stage that features one categorized climb and three sprint points. Departing from Årnes, the course gradually descends as the race nears the coast. Once in the city of Sarpsborg, three laps of a 9-km circuit will see the sprinter’s teams setting a fast pace on the front. However, a short and steep climb on the circuit may disrupt the pure sprinters and see a punchy rider take victory on the uphill sprint.

Team Novo Nordisk Roster Tour of Norway (May 20-24):

Stephen Clancy (IRL), Gerd de Keijzer (NED), James Glasspool (AUS), Nicolas Lefrançois (FRA), Martijn Verschoor (NED), Chris Williams (AUS).