Team Novo Nordisk kicked off the five-day Post Danmark Rundt with heavy rains and strong winds. Tuesday’s 178-kilometer stage began in Struer with sporadic rain showers but deteriorated into an intense downpour by the finish in Holstebro.

Tuesday’s opening stage saw the peloton head north out of Struer and run along the western Danish coast. A high pace and rains split the peloton early on, and a large group featuring Team Novo Nordisk’s Martijn Verschoor gained a small gap. The race came back together with 100 kilometers remaining and soon a new six-man break formed. They gained a maximum advantage of three minutes before getting caught inside the final 20 km. As the race reached the finishing laps around Holstebro, the rains increased and numerous crashes and flats ensued. With 10km to go, six riders escaped and the peloton was unable to bring them back. Lars Boom (Astana Pro Team) took the win ahead of his breakaway companions.

“The rain wouldn’t have been so bad if it hadn’t been for the really strong crosswinds,” Team Novo Nordisk’s Chris Williams said. “It wasn’t how we expected today to go. The last 20 minutes were chaotic with all the crashes and flats. Unfortunately James (Glasspool) had to pull out of the race after several crashes all in a row, but he is okay.”

Lars Boom (Astana Pro Team) soloed to the win six seconds ahead of Lars Bak (Lotto Soudal) and Asbjorn Andersen (Team Trefor-Blue Water). Team Novo Nordisk’s Andrea Peron finished in the front chase group.

Team Novo Nordisk, the world’s first all-diabetes pro cycling squad, continues racing at the Post Danmark Rundt on Wednesday with Stage 2. The 235-km run from Ringkøbing to Aarhus serves as the longest stage in the race’s 25-year history. The stage features four categorized climbs and two intermediate sprints before three 4.7-km finishing laps.