The Grand Prix Cycliste Québec et Montréal is one of the rare World Tour events to take place in North America. In light of their remarkable 2023 season, European Team Novo Nordisk was invited to compete against the world's best cyclists at The Grand Prix Cycliste Quebec et Montréal. As a UCI ProTeam, TNN is made up entirely of riders with type 1 diabetes and aims to show that anything is possible, and that diabetes is no barrier to elite athletic performance. The team lined up at the start of the Quebec City and Montreal races alongside UCI star teams such as Jumbo Visma, UAE Team Emirates, and INEOS Grenadiers, among others.

Arriving just a few days before the race in Quebec City, TNN focused on getting acquainted with the Quebec course. But they also took the time to be part of a number of events with young people living with type 1 diabetes, along with members of the medical community, to share their stories. The cyclists shared tips and tricks that have helped them get through extremely tough races. The message most frequently conveyed was the one so perfectly put by team member Samuel Brand:

"We're not diabetics who are pro cyclists, but pro cyclists who live with diabetes."

The events also included TNN's support team, such as the team doctor, who also shared testimonials on their daily lives.

The first of the two World Tour races was filled with smiles and sweat, as the sun was out in full force. Ready to tackle the first stage of the GPCQM, the six riders left nothing to chance on the course. On a course renowned for its technical turns and steep climbs, TNN showed what they were made of! From the very first minutes of the race, David Lozano was in the breakaway. Leading for 175km of a 200km race, he made his team's colors shine.

After a day's rest, TNN faced a challenging weather scenario. Montreal hosted the GCQM in the rain and cold. The Montreal course is known for its climbs and attacks, and more than half the cyclists from all teams failed to finish this physically and mentally-taxing event. Despite the cold, Phillipo, David, Mathias, Samuel, Peter, Hamish and Andrea gave it their all. Unfortunately, Samuel Brand suffered three punctures during the race.

With type 1 diabetes, these athletes need more recovery time than other pro cyclists. The 24-hour window between the two races was a distinct challenge in itself for the TNN riders. Despite this, the team put in an exceptional performance.

To round off their week in Canada, David Lozano, Samuel Brand and Hamish Beadle had breakfast with the Argon 18 team in at the company’s head office in Montreal, where they had the chance to learn more about the research and development that go into Argon 18 bikes – including seeing one of their old bikes being tested by a machine designed to calculate frame fatigue. A well-deserved day off!