Camp Will Identify Young Athletes with Diabetes to Join Professional Cycling Team
Team Novo Nordisk, the world’s first all-diabetes professional cycling team, is set to host its annual talent identification camps virtually due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. In its eighth year, the talent identification (Talent ID) camps serve as a key recruiting tool for Team Novo Nordisk to develop athletes for the men’s professional squad. Currently, 66 young athletes with type 1 diabetes from 25 different countries are slated to attend the virtual camp, which will be held from July10-20.
“Since the team’s inception, we knew locating and developing athletes with type 1 diabetes was essential for the long-term success and sustainability of the project,” said Team Novo Nordisk CEO and co-founder Phil Southerland. “This is the eighth year we’ve held talent identification camps, and they serve as a vital recruitment tool for our pipeline of talented athletes with type 1 diabetes. The strength and depth of our project have grown enormously thanks to these camps, but we are always searching for the next superstar who is living with diabetes.”
The Sufferfest training platform, which is part of Wahoo Fitness’ training ecosystem, will be at the core of the 2020 Talent ID Camp. Participants will complete The Sufferfest’s Half Monty Advanced Ramp Test before the camp to set and evaluate baseline values for FTP (functional threshold power), MAP (maximal aerobic power), and to refine their estimated NM (neuromuscular power) and AC (anaerobic capacity).
During camp, athletes will complete daily structured workouts on The Sufferfest app, including both cycling-specific workouts and cross-training. All athletes will complete The Sufferfest 4DP Full Frontal fitness test to get precise values across all four performance metrics (MAP, FTP, NM, and AC) and to help team management evaluate athletes. At the end of the camp participants will complete the Half Monty again to track improvement.
“Performance metrics are an important aspect of what makes young athletes suitable for a professional racing team,” said The Sufferfest founder David McQuillen. “The advanced fitness tests in The Sufferfest allow coaches and athletes to get deep insight into their strengths and areas for improvement. We’re proud to be able to partner with Team Novo Nordisk on their first-ever virtual Talent ID camp and help them as they work to set their 2021 roster.”
Since 2013, Team Novo Nordisk’s Talent ID camps have been held during the summer on the University of Georgia campus, which is Southerland’s alma mater. While this year’s Talent ID has shifted to a digital experience, the goals remain the same. Team Novo Nordisk is actively looking to find the next big talent to race for the world’s first all-diabetes professional cycling team.
“For nearly a decade, we get to watch the children attending these camps achieving one of their earliest dreams. It is an absolute honor to be a part of that milestone, and we don’t take it lightly that we are helping to create the next generation of heroes with diabetes,” said Southerland. “Through camp, children with diabetes are connected to their role models and given tools to empower their journey of living and thriving with diabetes. It gives me great pleasure that we expanded the 2020 camp to so many more athletes and I’m eager to meet all these future champions.”
The campers will race and train together on The Sufferfest alongside Team Novo Nordisk’s professional, development and junior riders while also working closely with licensed health care professionals to learn more about sports and diabetes management. The camps are open to young, active, endurance athletes ages 15-23 with type 1 diabetes.
What makes this year’s Talent ID camp unique is that the digital format allows for the Talent ID campers to ride alongside Team Novo Nordisk professional athletes. Historically the camps have been limited to about 25 athletes, but this year Team Novo Nordisk has expanded to nearly 70 campers.
Team Novo Nordisk, whose mission is to inspire, educate and empower everyone affected by diabetes, has nearly 40 members across its development and professional teams and ambassador program.
To find out more about joining Team Novo Nordisk’s junior or development squads or to apply for a future Talent ID camp, visit www.teamnovonordisk.com.
