Team Novo Nordisk stands third overall in the team classification after a strong finish by all eight riders at Sunday’s Stage 1 of the Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey. The 144.8-kilometer race began and finished in the coastal city of Alanya.

Several Team Novo Nordisk riders were seen in early breakaway attempts but it was Mario Costa (Lampre–Merida), Alessandro Tonelli (Bardiani CSF), Luis Mas Bonet (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), Adam Phelan (Drapac Professional Cycling) and Federico Zurlo (UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team) that made the day’s main breakaway.

The peloton only let the five riders gain about three and a half minutes before reeling in them in on the final laps around Alanya. Mark Cavendish (Etixx – Quick Step) sprinted to the win in the ensuing bunch finish. Team Novo Nordisk’s Martijn Verschoor was seen in the heart of the sprint and finished in 18th position. Team Novo Nordisk finished third overall behind Bardiani CSF and Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise in the team classification.

“We tried to get in the break but didn’t succeed today,” Team Novo Nordisk’s Kevin De Mesmaeker said to the TNN website. “Our sprinters really tried in the finish and several of us were up near the front in what was a pretty chaotic finish. Today is just the first day of what we are hoping will be a successful week for us in Turkey.”

Mark Cavendish (Etixx-Quick Step) took the win and the overall leader’s jersey ahead of Caleb Ewan (Orica-GREENEdge) and Nicola Ruffoni (Lampre-Merida).

Team Novo Nordisk, the world’s first all-diabetes pro cycling team, continues racing at the Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey on Monday with Stage 2, a 182-km stage that begins in Alanya and features two intermediate sprints before finishing in Antalya.