Following a standout performance and second place finish on stage 6 of the USA Pro Challenge, Team Novo Nordisk’s Javier Megias (ESP) closed out the race with the overall 1st Bank Most Aggressive Rider jersey. The jersey reflects years of assertive racing by the 31-year-old Spaniard, who is the only rider to finish all five editions of the USA Pro Challenge.
“Finally, I won the jersey. I have raced all five years of the USA Pro Challenge and I try to be active and aggressive every single year,” Megias said. “This jersey is a testament to the hard work of our entire team and I promise we will keep fighting at every race to show what may be possible with diabetes.”
The final stage of the seven-day USA Pro Challenge was a 109.7-kilometer run from Golden into downtown Denver. Attacks flew from the start, but it took some time for a six-man breakaway to form. The front group started to disintegrate once the race hit the finishing circuits and everyone was reeled in by the final lap. The race came down to a bunch sprint with John Murphy (UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling) sprinting to the win. Team Novo Nordisk’s Charles Planet finished in the top 20.
“Today was the perfect ending to a great, but challenging race for the team,” Team Novo Nordisk’s CEO and co-founder Phil Southerland said. “Javi has now raced 35 days at the USA Pro Challenge and has fought hard during every single one of them. I couldn’t be any happier for him. This jersey shows success can be possible if you stay focused and fight hard. We also want to give a big thanks to race organizer Shawn Hunter. We are so proud to have been a part of this amazing race over the years.”
The world’s first all-diabetes pro cycling team returns to racing at the eight-stage Tour of Britain when it kicks off on September 6th.
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